Illuminations: Playing Games

Playing Games

Spinning Tops

Students measure distances using standard and nonstandard units and record their measurement in various tables. Then they are asked to use descriptive statistics to report the results. During a top-spinning contest, students measure the distance along a curve using indirect measurement. They record the data for their group in a chart, and compute their individual median and the group median.

Learning Objectives
 
Students will:
  • measure the distance along a curve using indirect measurement
  • record data in chart form
  • compute individual and group medians
  • analyze data

Materials
 
Spinning Tops Activity Sheet
Small Circular Plastic Tops (1 per student)
Felt tip pens
Large Sheets of White Paper
Skeins of Yarn (1 per group)
Scissors

Instructional Plan

Guide the students as they decorate tops made by pushing a writing pen through a plastic cover, such as those from yogurt and margarine containers.

Distribute a large sheet of white paper to each group, and demonstrate a spin on the top and how to "measure" the distance—with yarn or string, follow the path of the pen, and then measure the string with a centimeter ruler.

Distribute the Spinning Tops activity sheet to each student.

Spinning Tops Activity Sheet Spinning Tops Activity Sheet

Guide the students as they record the data in their charts and compute the medians. Students should remember that the median is found by placing the data in order (from least to greatest, for example) and identifying the middle number. If there are two middle numbers, the median is the average of the two.

Encourage discussion of the tables created.

Extensions
 
  1. Demonstrate how to make a stem-and-leaf plot with the data from all the groups. Guide the students as they display and analyze their position within the table, as well as the general tendency of their group.

NCTM Standards and Expectations
 
Data Analysis & Probability 6-8
  1. Select, create, and use appropriate graphical representations of data, including histograms, box plots, and scatterplots.
  2. Find, use, and interpret measures of center and spread, including mean and interquartile range.
Measurement 6-8
  1. Select and apply techniques and tools to accurately find length, area, volume, and angle measures to appropriate levels of precision.

References
 
  • Silverman, Helene. "IDEAS: Games, Measurement, and Statistics." The Arithmetic Teacher. April, 1990, pp. 27-32.
  
1 period   

NCTM Resources

Principles and Standards for School Mathematics

Lessons
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