Our state testing is approaching in two weeks and we have been reviewing concepts and skills that we have been working on all year. Each Friday leading up to testing, in an effort not to burn out, we will spend the whole day doing a large-scale project that will help them apply their learning.
Today, I decided to have the students work in groups to create a survey that they would use to collect data from the students in our class. They used a piece of paper to create their survey in their groups. We rotated throughout the classroom to collect this data that they will be using.
After analyzing the results in their survey, I provided the students with 5 sheets of paper that they will need to fill out with their data: a bar graph, pictograph, tally chart, line plot, and data summary. We spent some time completing an example with fake data as a class in an effort to reinforce basic graphing concepts. My students seemed to do really well with the whole-group example and I was confident that they would be able to work as a group to make their poster with their data.
They scattered around the room with their papers, supplies, and poster boards in hand. I was surprised at how cooperatively they worked. We did review the qualities that make a good group beforehand, so I think that helped. Each student needed to contribute, they were to be respectful of others’ ideas, and most importantly, they could not just simply split up the work. They all needed to be participating in the creation of each page at the same time.
The projects came out really well! I had the example that we did as a class on the board for the students to refer to if they needed it. I took a bunch of pictures as I was walking around from group to group. Have fun browsing!
