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Lesson 2: The Data Dojo
Students explore what counts as data and sort cat data cards across three rounds — reading dot plots, bar charts, and heatmaps and describing center and range.
Overview
Building from Lesson 1, students begin to think about different types of data, representations, and sources of data. Working in pairs, they sort cat data cards and build representations across three rounds.
Student Objectives
I can…
- ✓ I can show that many things can count as data, like graphs, photos, or words.
- ✓ I can identify and read a dot plot, bar chart, and simple heatmap.
- ✓ I can calculate the mean (average) to describe the center of the data.
- ✓ I can describe the minimum and maximum values within a dataset and the range.
At a Glance
Total: 45 minutes| Section | Time | Slides | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome & Grounding | 4 min | 3–4 | Daily warm-up. Give students the Data Habits of Mind tracker to use throughout the week, or hang them as posters / display on screen. Students read two of the Data Habits of Mind and connect to one by choosing a question to answer in their journal or notebook. |
| Agenda & Classroom Agreements | 2 min | 5–6 | Walk through the agenda for the day and revisit the classroom agreements before students move into the sorting rounds. |
| Introducing the Basics of Data | 6 min | 7–12 | Orient students to the basics of data. Different students and grade levels learn about data at different times, so this lesson gives everyone the foundation to succeed in Lesson 3, where they explore the Dataverse and analyze avatar data in pairs. Topics: defining data, categorical vs. numerical data, and reading a data card and bar chart. |
| Round 1 — Sorting by Category | 10 min | 13–17 | Review the Round 1 directions and an example of sorting cards by a categorical value. Form small groups of 2–3, pass out a Round 1 direction set (class set) and a set of Cat Data Cards (5–9 per group), and have students sort the cards by a categorical variable. When the timer ends, invite a few groups to share how they sorted. See slide notes for tips. |
| Round 2 — Numeric Data, Range & Mean | 15 min | 18–25 | Prepare students by reviewing the numeric-data slides (~7 min). Groups then sort and analyze their cards by a numeric variable, describing the range and computing the mean. A Round 2 handout summarizes how to work with numeric data. |
| Round 3 — Reading a Histogram | 5 min | 26–29 | If time permits, or for early finishers: have students figure out how the data cards are sorted in the histogram and apply the correct labels on their group handout. |
| Reflection & Closing Ritual | 3 min | 30–31 | Students reflect on how they used the Data Habits of Mind and the Graphic Organizer. The organizer serves as a tracker to record reflections across the different Data Adventures. |
Materials & Prep
Print
- Data Habits of Mind Organizer1 per student
- Cat Data Cards Student Handout1 per group (2–3 students)
Gather
- Deck Cat Data Cards GameEach group of 2–3 students needs a set of 5–9 data cards (different sets ideal), the Round 1 and Round 2 directions, and the Cat Data Cards Student Handout.
Before you teach
- Break up the Cat Data Cards into decks of 6–9 cards per pair or triad of students.
- Print the Data Habits of Mind Organizer and Cat Data Cards Student Handout.
- Review the slide deck.
Slides & Teaching Guide
How to use these speaker notes
Every slide's notes follow the same four labels so you can find what you need at a glance.
- Time:
- Approximate pacing for the slide.
- Example Script:
- Suggested language to say to students. Paraphrase freely to match your voice.
- Do:
- Appears only when a specific action or facilitation move is needed (invite a volunteer, collect a data sheet, etc.). If you don't see a "Do" line, the script is all that's needed.
- Purpose:
- Why the slide is here and what it's building toward in the lesson.