Description

This lesson introduces range, mode, and median in a fun way. Using the number of letters in their names and in fairy tale characters' names, students work in small groups to complete a graph and use data to determine range, mode, and median.

Materials

-Chalkboard or dry erase board
-Chalk or dry erase markers
-Overhead projector
-Transparency
-Graph pocket chart
-Graph title card
-Graph number cards
-Colored squares for graph
-A class set of Fairy Tale Characters worksheet (see Attached File)
-A class set of Assessment Checklist for Fairy Tale Names Bar Graph (see Attached File)

Procedures

1. Ask students, "Do you know who has the shortest name or the longest name in our class?" (Call on students and accept reasonable answers.) Tell students, "Today we will make a class bar graph to show how many letters are in our names."

2. At overhead projector, show transparency of students' names. The students count how many letters are in each child's name. Write the numeral next to the student's name.

3. Next tell students we have to transfer the information on how many letters are in their names and organize it as a class graph.

4. Demonstrate the correct labeling of a bar graph to students using a graphing pocket chart, the chalkboard, or an overhead projector. Fill in title and number labels, discussing as you go.

5. Graph the information on the Class Name Graph by counting how many students have 2 letters, 3 letters, 4 letters, etc. until all students' names are graphed.

6. Ask students questions about the graph, such as: How many students have 6 letters in their names? or How many more students have 5 letters in their names than 4?, etc.

7. Allow students the opportunity to ask their own questions about the graph, having them call on other students to answer them.

8. Write the word range on the board. Tell students that the word range in math means the difference between the highest number and the lowest number of given numbers. Tell students the range is found by subtracting the lowest number from the highest number. Ask students to refer to the graph to find the highest number. Write the number on the board. Then have the students find the lowest number. Write that number on the board under the highest number. Ask students to subtract to find the range. Select a student to answer the question. Comment on the answer (11-3=8) as 8 being the range.

9. Write the word median on the board. Tell students that the word median in math means the middle number in a list of numbers arranged from least to greatest. Call on students to write the numerals on the board in order from least to greatest. Ask the students to find the median. Mention to the students that there may be two medians if there is an even amount of numbers in the line. Call on a student to come up to the board and point out the median.

10. Write the word mode on the board. Tell students that the word mode in math means the number that occurs the most times. Look at the graph and write on the board all the numbers and how often they occur. For example, if there are nine students with 4 letters in their name then there would be nine 4s on the board.

11. Review with students how to find range, median and mode. Ask for questions and allow for discussion.
12. At this point divide the students into groups of three. Tell the students they will work together to complete a Fairy Tale Characters worksheet (see Attached File ) on graphing the number of letters in fairy tale characters' names and find the range, median and mode.

13. Pass out Fairy Tale Characters worksheet to each student. Tell students that they can work together, but each student must fill in their own worksheet.

14. Circulate giving feedback as students work in groups.

Extensions

Students can write the words range, median, and mode and the definitions in their math journals.

Students can use the letters in their names to see how many words they can make on "The Name Game" worksheet (See Attached File)

Students can use a chart to see how much their names are worth on "How Much is Your Name Worth?" worksheet (See Attached File)