Gold Seal Lesson:
Picnic Time

Copernicus Education Gateway

Subject:

Mathematics

Grade:

5-8

ICLE Standards:

Mathematics as Problem Solving: Acquire confidence in using mathematics meaningfully.

Statistics: Develop an appreciation for statistical methods as powerful means for decision making; systematically collect, organize and describe data.

Performance Task:

Each year the seventh grade class at North Middle School has a class picnic. The class advisor appoints various committees to plan the picnic. For this task, pretend you are a seventh grader at North Middle School and your class advisor has asked you to be a member of the food committee. Your committee must determine a reasonable cost per person and decide what kinds of foods, how much to buy and where to buy it. Your choices should reflect the preferences of your classmates. You will need to do some comparative pricing to determine where you can get the best buy. You must present your plan to your class advisor before purchasing the food.

Note to the teacher: Before breaking into small groups, the class as a whole should brainstorm ideas as to how they could go about making decisions to address these concerns. The class will now divide into groups of four or five students each. Each group represents the food committee for the picnic. You are a member of one of these groups. With your group, develop and carry out a plan to make the decisions regarding the food for the picnic. Each student is to write an individual report summarizes your work, findings, and decisions. Your group will make an oral presentation to your teacher.

Knowledge / Skills:

Perform operations with signed (positive and negative) numbers, including decimals, ratios, percents, and fractions.  (m1)

Understand the best procedures for statistical data collection, organization, and display.  (m5)

Present information in well-organized fashion that will be clear to the target audience.  (ela11)

Use brainstorming, role playing, and standard problem solving strategies to define a problem and suggest solutions.  (ela19)

Rubric:

4 Points  =  The student shows an understanding of how to collect and use data. The choices made reflect a careful analysis and interpretation of the data. His/her computations are accurate, and approximation and rounding are used when appropriate. Student demonstrates the ability to work effectively in the group. He/she contributes to and evaluates group decisions and assumes a leadership role in the group. He/she prepares a thorough written summary.

3 Points  =  The student needs coaching to analyze and interpret the data. Some of his/her computations are inaccurate, and he/she does not show an understanding of approximation and estimation skills. Student demonstrates satisfactory group participation, but does not take a leadership role within the group. His/her written report has some important elements missing.

2 Points  =  The student does very little analyzing or interpreting of data. He/she shows few computations with some errors. He/she makes little use of approximation or rounding. Student contributes little to the group process and presentation. His/her written report is vague and incomplete.

1 Point  =  The student shows no understanding of data analysis. He/she makes no meaningful contribution to the group's effort or presentation and does not complete a written report.

Keywords:

STATISTICS
DATA ANALYSIS
DATA COLLECTION
INFERENCE
SURVEYS
COMPUTATION 
BRAINSTORM
RESEARCH
EXPOSITION
ORAL PRESENTATION

Grades:

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

ICLE Application:

D

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