GED 2002 Teachers' Handbook of Lesson Plans

Activity Title- Me and My Data

Goal/Objective

To evaluate local data and its effects on the community.

Lesson Outline/Introduction

We use data to make decisions about developing new business. We use data to decide when and where we will build news schools. Data is important in our daily lives.

Activity

Students will brainstorm different types of maps used by government agencies in their area. Discuss the reasons these maps are used. Evaluate a current map on school zones to use in the classroom. Brainstorm reasons for why the various school zones are developed.

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity

Discuss other types of data to make local decisions.

Materials, Texts, Realia, Handouts

Extension Activity

Students bring to class different types of maps of local area.

Maps include: weather maps, topographical maps, and road maps.

ESE Accommodations

• Allow students to complete activities in writing or orally.
• Identify basic symbols used on map legends prior to the lesson.

Real-Life Connection

Ask: What kind of data do you use? Do you ever use data? Have students connect the different types of data to their daily lives. Be prepared to give examples of how you use data in everyday living.

Activity Title- Me and My Data

Introduction

Ask: How many of you are new to the area? How many are long time residents? What changes have you noticed in our community in the last five years? Discuss that data is used to make many of the decisions in our community.

Main Activity

Say : People use maps for many different types of reasons. Why do government agencies use maps? Have students brainstorm.

Write the students answers on the board.

Say: Today we are going to look at a map of school zones. Why are maps like this used?

Closure/Conclusion

Ask: What other types of data are used to make local decisions? Answers may include census data, survey, predictions or reports.

Follow-up lessons/Activities

Have students bring different types of maps, surveys, questionnaires, reports or other types of data to analysis.