Data Management & Probability
Grade 4: Data Management & Probability
Collecting and organizing discrete data; reading and displaying data using stem-and-leaf plots and double bar graphs; understanding median; comparing two related sets of data; predicting the frequency of an outcome; investigating how the number of repetitions of a probability experiment affects the conclusion drawn.
Nature Journaler: @billiejooutdoors
Nature Journaling: I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of...
Nature Journaling is an incredible tool for students to collect data based on what they are observing. Graphs can be added to a journal displaying the data they have collected.
At this age all three prompts "I notice..., I wonder...?, and It reminds me of..." become very intuitive. However, the last statement becomes very important for making the connections. Encourage students to begin writing using single words, simple sentences, lists, point form, paragraphs etc.. Please note that spelling is NOT the focus in a nature journal. At this age you may start to see art fears - ensure you are re-iterating it is not about a pretty picture. It is about their observations. Please see the link below for tips on giving feedback. Using a combination of words, pictures and numbers allows the students multiple tools to document their observations. With permission Bethan Burton has allowed us to link to her website as she has written a blog post for Teaching nature journaling at all ages.
Here are some more ideas to get you started.
Engage the fives senses (whenever possible)
Make leaf prints ( paint the leaf and press the print into the journal)
Make leaf rubbings
Trace the items they are looking at
Add leaves into the journal using tape
Count the birds/squirrels/insects etc.
Measure as much of the phenomena as the students can using non standard and standard units of measurement.
Here is a downloadable lesson from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. All resources shared with permission. "I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of..."
GIVING FEEDBACK here is a fantastic resource from Jack and Emilie
NOTE: You are encouraged to spend time in the outdoors Nature Journaling. However, you can also bring nature inside, look out your wonder window, have a refrigerator Safari or even observe a house plant or pet.
Angle Search
Go outside for a walk, visit a green space or look out a window. How many angles (straight, right, or half a right angle) can you find outside?
Do a tally of each of the angles you find
Also document if they are formed naturally or unnaturally (person made)
Create a double bar graph to show your findings, include the type of angle and whether it was natural or not
Curriculum Links:
see Writing
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
Nature Journaling: Biodiversity Inventory
In the activity Biodiversity Inventory from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren's book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. "Students record the diversity of species in two study areas and use graphs and diversity indices to describe and analyze the data."
All resources shared with permission.
Curriculum Links:
Nature Journaling: Collection or Field Guide
In the activity Collection or Field Guide from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren's book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. "Students make a field guide or “collection” of things within a focused category, such as leaf types, rocks in a stream, things that are red, or tracks."
All resources shared with permission.
Curriculum Links:
Planting
Go outside into the garden or use containers indoors to plant some seeds. As your seeds begin to sprout keep track of the following information in a journal:
Measure their height everyday using centimeter or millimeters
Which day of the week did they sprouted on?
How many days did it take for them to sprout?
Keep track of the seeds that did not sprout
If you planted two different plant seeds which ones sprouted first? Which ones are growing faster?
What else did you notice?
Measure several plants at one time and plot the results on a stem and leaf plot. Then using a double bar graph show a comparison of growth between two plants of your choosing (maybe the tallest and the shortest).
Compare the related data:
What is similar and what is different between the plants you looked closely at?
Curriculum Link:
See Writing
See Measurement
See Life Systems
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.