Illuminations: High Temperature

High Temperature

In this lesson, students complete a chart by adding or subtracting from a given value, use graphs to compare two categories of information, and identify number patterns.

Learning Objectives
 

Students will:

  • complete a chart by adding or subtracting from a given value
  • use graphs to compare two categories of information
  • identify number patterns

Materials
 
High Temperature Activity Sheet

Instructional Plan

Display the following chart on the chalkboard or overhead:

 

Start
Finish
27
40
13
26
10
23
40
53

 

Ask students, "How do you get from start to finish in each row?" Allow time for discussion. Students should see that you can simply add 13 to the start number to get to the finish number. (Alternatively, some students may say that you can subtract 13 from the finish number to get the start number.)

Next, display the following chart:

 

Start
Finish
50
30
33
13
20
0
41
21

 

Ask students, "How do you get from start to finish in each row?" Allow time for discussion. Students should see that you can simply subtract 20 from the start number to get to the finish number. (Alternatively, students may say that you can add 20 to the finish number to get the start number.)

Distribute the High Temperature activity sheet to each student.

High Temperature Activity Sheet High Temperature Activity Sheet

Discuss the pattern on the Activity Sheet with the students. Demonstrate the rule using your city's 6:00 a.m. temperature as an example, and predict the high temperature for the day. (Before class begins, you may want to know this information. Alternatively, students can use computers to locate the information online.)

Give students time to individually complete the chart and graph. In pairs, discuss the completed chart and graph. Circulate through the classroom to verify the accuracy of the students' graphs.

Assessment Options
 
  1. You may collect the activity sheets as a means of assessment. The answers to the activity sheet are:
    Miami: 78, 96
    Portland: 46, 64
    Austin: 72, 90
    Burlington: 37, 55
    Pittsburgh: 61, 79
    Anchorage: 21, 39
    Seattle: 44, 62
    Edmonton: 55, 73
    Phoenix: 84, 102

Extensions
 
  1. Gather the high temperatures for ten major cities from the local newspaper. Figure the 6:00 a.m. temperature for those cities. List the cities in order from the lowest 6:00 a.m. temperature to the highest.

  2. Using this data, students can also use Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet/graphing software to create a graph of this data, similar to what was done in class.

NCTM Standards and Expectations
 
Data Analysis & Probability 3-5
  1. Collect data using observations, surveys, and experiments.
  2. Represent data using tables and graphs such as line plots, bar graphs, and line graphs.

References
 
  • Cook, Marcy. "IDEAS: Applications." The Arithmetic Teacher. Vol. 36, No. 8, April 1989, pp. 27-32.
  
1 period   

NCTM Resources

Principles and Standards for School Mathematics
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Thinkfinity Verizon Foundation
More and Better Mathematics for All Students
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