Nowa Techie

When you think about data, the first thoughts that come to mind might be how dull or uninspiring it can be. But what if there was a way to turn that perception around and make learning about data an exciting journey for elementary school students?

Enter the newest MathRep. This template is designed to engage students while teaching bar graphs and picture graphs to young learners.

In this blog, we will delve into how this new MathReps template is exciting elementary math students. It offers educators a fresh and dynamic method to ignite enthusiasm for data interpretation among their students. Get ready to explore the possibilities and discover how this MathRep can make a real difference in the classroom!

Picture This

This is an example that aligns to 3rd-grade standards: 3.MD.B.3 Draw a scaled picture graph and a scaled bar graph to represent a data set with several categories. Solve one- and two-step “how many more” and “how many less” problems using information presented in scaled bar graphs.

You’ll notice that the same information is used to complete each of the graphs. This leaves quadrant 4. It can have questions about how many more and how many less, but why not allow students to observe the data and make their own observations. Leaving it open-ended like this allows all students to be successful. In addition, you will have students making observations that go beyond how many more/less.

The Setup

When first introducing this MathRep activity, it is recommended to provide students with the information located in the center of the paper. Subsequently, they can proceed to create the graphs themselves. Once they have gained proficiency in graph creation, the teacher can fill in the graph and task the students with completing the remaining sections, including the center. For a more advanced approach, the teacher can fill in the ‘Mathematical Observations’ square (quadrant 4), leaving the rest to the students. This adaptable strategy can effectively challenge students at various proficiency levels, guiding them toward a deeper comprehension of the material.

What Will You Do?

The power of this MathRep lies in its ability to enable students to interact with data in multiple ways simultaneously. This allows students the opportunity to make connections between different representations of information, leading to a deeper understanding. Teaching skills in isolation should and has been discontinued according to the Common Core Math Clusters, as math is intertwined with all aspects of learning. This MathRep illustrates these connections, preparing students for future success.