Gold Seal Lesson:
Do You Hear What I Hear?

Copernicus Education Gateway

Subject:

Mathematics

Grade:

9-12

ICLE Standards:

Science/Math:  Apply scientific knowledge to make informed decisions associated with the environment.

Use creative and critical thinking skills necessary for decision making.

Apply knowledge of data collection and analysis to a real-world problem.

Performance Task:

There is a great deal of noise pollution in the community and in the school. To inform the proper authorities and teach those involved, data measurements will be taken at each suspected noise pollution site for analysis. 

Students will identify suspected areas of concern within the school and/or community such as bells, lawnmower in the courtyard, parking lot music/vehicles, talking decibel levels. Using TI-83's and CBL units, decibel levels will be recorded. Averages, medians, standard deviations, etc. will be computed to compare differences of noise source occurrences. These data will be graphed, plotted and analyzed. Further information will be gathered via the Internet and library resource materials.

Definition of noise pollution sites: beyond conversational decibel level.

Knowledge / Skills:

Understand the best procedures for statistical data collection, organization, and display.  M.5

Understand the characteristics of measures of central tendency (i.e., mean, median, and mode).  M.15

Gather information from a variety of sources, including electronic sources, and summarize, analyze, and evaluate its use for a report.  ELA.3

Rubric:

4 POINTS = Data collected on all possible pollution sites. Data averaged and analyzed adequately. Charts and graphs done correctly and neatly. Equipment used properly. Conclusions drawn as a result of analysis.

3 POINTS = All of the above except didn't identify all possible noise pollution sites. Few arithmetic/computations errors.

2 POINTS =  All of #4 above, but several computational errors. Charts, graphs are sloppy and inaccurate to some degree. Reasonable conclusions cannot be drawn.

1  POINT = Few noise pollution sites identified. Many computational errors. Sloppy work.

Keywords:

RESEARCH

STATISTICS
DATA ANALYSIS
DATA COLLECTION
GRAPHS
INFERENCE
PROBLEM SOLVING
CENTRAL TENDENCY

Grades:

Kg [] - 1 [] - 2 [] - 3 [] - 4 [] - 5 [] - 6 [] - 7 [] - 8 [] - 9 [x] - 10 [x] - 11 [x] - 12 [x]

ICLE Application:

D

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