Middle School Internet Sites (6-8)

Eighth Grade

1. Number & Operations (N)

2.  Algebra (A)

3. Geometry (G)

4. Data and Probability (D)

Strand 4. Data and Probability (D)

1. Draw, Explain, and Justify Conclusions Based on Data
2. Understand Probability Concepts for Simple and Compound Events

4. Data and Probability (D)

Eighth Grade

Draw, Explain, and Justify Conclusions Based on Data

1. D.AN.08.01 Determine which measure of central tendency (mean, median, mode) best represents a data set, e.g., salaries, home prices, for answering certain questions; justify the choice made.
   1. A Functional Housing Market
      Students will access the Internet to search for housing prices in their town and compare the prices to the number of square feet found in the living area of the house. A linear equation will be derived from the data on a coordinate plane. Any "best-fit" method for determining the graph of the line can be used. This contains a teacher lesson plan and is a student activity. This is designed for an Algebra One course.
   2. Adventures in Statistics
      Students need to collect information about the classroom in their building (example: length, width, height and number of students in the different classrooms). After collecting all the data the students then need to construct graphs representing this data. This contains a teacher lesson plan and is a student activity.
   3. Houston Area Real-Time Traffic Report
      Students will calculate the time needed to travel a certain distance given the rate of speed. They will be collecting "real-time traffic maps of the Houston area. Upon collecting their information they will construct graphs. This contains a teacher lesson plan and is a student activity.
   4. Indy 500
      Students will find the mean and median speed for the Indianapolis 500. Rates per lap will be calculated as well as the length of each lap. Students will need to research information via the Internet. This would work best for students in grades 7-9.
   5. Line Graphs
      This activity is part of Project SkyMath: Module Section 4, Activity 11. In this activity students interpret collected data represented on graphs. This student activity requires students to represent and analyze changes in temperatue over time.
   6. Math Files - Train Race
      This is an interactive game where students need to calculate the mean, median, mode, and range of a set of numbers and then use this information to determine which train Pythagoras or Hypatia should board to reach the station on time. An on-screen calculator is provided for students to calculate means.
   7. Name that Medium
      Information is given in a chart on cassette and CD sales the past decade.  The students are to make a double line graph, predictions, figure costs by year and draw conclusions based on other factors or questions being presented.
   8. NSCDiscovery
   This lesson uses a real world situation to explore data collection and analysis. Students are asked to consider whether height restrictions in the military affect the numbers of men and women who are allowed to enlist. Students gather data about the class, create a graph to display data, and analyze the data to answer questions.
   9. New Kids in The Hall: Analyzing Baseball Hall of Fame Statistics in the Math Classroom
      In this activity, students see how statistics are used to determine which athletes are chosen to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Students work in small groups to calculate, chart, and graph various statistics for different Hall of Fame members. After reading an article about new inductees to the Hall of Fame students collect data on the statistics used to recommend atheletes for the Hall of Fame and predict which athletes would be good choices to be inducted in the future.
   10. Stem and Leaf Plots
   Stem and leaf plots explained.
   11. Stem and Leaf Plots Interactive
   Stem and Leaf Plots Interactive site.
   12. Stem and Leaf Plots
   Stem and Leaf Plots.
   13. Surfing Amusement Parks
       Students have a choice of going to any one of five amusement parks in California. They have to choose one with an entrance fee that is the median price range. Surf the Internet to find how much it will cost for your family to go to each park and then graph your findings. This contains a teacher lesson plan and is a student activity.
   14. Virtual Manipulative Box Plot
   Box and Whiskers Plot-interactive.
   15. What Percentage of Your Class is Right or Left Handed?
       Students will write letters down for 20 seconds with their right hand and then do the same for their left. And record the results in a graph form. This is a student activity.
2. D.AN.08.02 Recognize practices of collecting and displaying data that may bias the presentation or analysis.
   1. A Functional Housing Market
      Students will access the Internet to search for housing prices in their town and compare the prices to the number of square feet found in the living area of the house. A linear equation will be derived from the data on a coordinate plane. Any "best-fit" method for determining the graph of the line can be used. This contains a teacher lesson plan and is a student activity. This is designed for an Algebra One course.
   2. Adventures in Statistics
      Students need to collect information about the classroom in their building (example: length, width, height and number of students in the different classrooms). After collecting all the data the students then need to construct graphs representing this data. This contains a teacher lesson plan and is a student activity.
   3. Houston Area Real-Time Traffic Report
      Students will calculate the time needed to travel a certain distance given the rate of speed. They will be collecting "real-time traffic maps of the Houston area. Upon collecting their information they will construct graphs. This contains a teacher lesson plan and is a student activity.
   4. New Kids in The Hall: Analyzing Baseball Hall of Fame Statistics in the Math Classroom
      In this activity, students see how statistics are used to determine which athletes are chosen to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Students work in small groups to calculate, chart, and graph various statistics for different Hall of Fame members. After reading an article about new inductees to the Hall of Fame students collect data on the statistics used to recommend atheletes for the Hall of Fame and predict which athletes would be good choices to be inducted in the future.
   5. Surfing Amusement Parks
      Students have a choice of going to any one of five amusement parks in California. They have to choose one with an entrance fee that is the median price range. Surf the Internet to find how much it will cost for your family to go to each park and then graph your findings. This contains a teacher lesson plan and is a student activity.
   6. What Percentage of Your Class is Right or Left Handed?
   Students will write letters down for 20 seconds with their right hand and then do the same for their left. And record the results in a graph form. This is a student activity.

Understand Probability Concepts for Simple and Compound Events

1. D.PR.08.03 Compute relative frequencies from a table of experimental results for a
   repeated event. Interpret the results using relationship of probability to relative frequency.*
   1. Area Probability (Throw Darts!)
      Students manipulate the size of a circle and a rectangle to explore the probability that a dart thrown into a rectangle will land in the circle.
   2. The Birthday Problem: A short lesson in probability
      This activity surveys the possibility of birthdays occurring on the same day in as small a group as 28 students. It also extends the problem to using a computer to simulate this problem to see what the probability generated by a random list of birthdays would be.
   3. The Cereal Box Problem - A Lesson in Expected Value
      This activity addresses the NCTM Standard for Probability for grades 5-8 through it's use of modeling situations and asking students to make predictions. It includes online simulation of the problem in addition to a hands-on activity using dice and a pencil and paper. Also includes teacher notes, references and related questions.
   4. Figure This! Math Challenges for Families
      Figure This! Mathematics Challenges for Families provides interesting math challenges that middle-school students can do at home with their families. Each challenge features a description of the important math involved, a note on where the math is used in the real world, a hint to get started, complete solutions, a "Try This" section, additional related problems with answers, questions to think about, fun facts related to math, and resources for further exploration. Math Challenge #26 is an example of a problem that would help teach this particular benchmark.
   5. Simulating Probability Situations
   Students can use interactive box models to explore probability. Open-ended questions are included. Bar graphs of the experiments are automatically generated.
2. D.PR.08.04 Apply the Basic Counting Principle to find total number of outcomes possible for independent and dependent events, and calculate the probabilities using organized lists or tree diagrams.
   1. Discrete Math Project
      This site is an excellent resource for teacher lesson plans for discrete math.
   2. How Many Valentines
      A story problem is given which allows the student to solve and then see the correct answer and why it is correct. There is a space given to make corrections and write what he/she did correctly or incorrectly.
   3. Independent and Dependent Events 
      After a brief explanation and example of independent and dependent events, the student conducts experiments, tally results, and determine probability to find the number of yellow chips in a bag.
   4. Math Goodies: Probability Independent Events
      Introduces probability by giving examples and interactive samples. Introduction to independent events with challenging exercises, as well as interactive games and puzzles are included.  Challenging quiz for students is found at the end of the lesson.
   5. Replacement and Probability
      This site is a teacher lesson plan which goes through a step by step description of the differences between dependent and independent events. It allows the teacher to use hands-on activities to show students the difference. It then has follow up questions for the students.
   6. Simulating Probability Situations
   Students can use interactive box models to explore probability. Open-ended questions are included. Bar graphs of the experiments are automatically generated.
   7. The Most Colorful Map of All
   This lesson allows you to connect reading and mathematics in a fun and interesting way. Map coloring is used as a way of stimulating student's to think logically and to use strategies to solve problems which are both interesting and pertinent. Excellent resources are included for the teacher to use, copy, and share.
    
   8. Webmath - See How Many Combinations You Can Make
   This site allows students to input names of things or objects and see how many possible combinations can be made. A detailed explanation is provided for how to find the solution.
   9. Welcome to the Hotel Infinity
   This lesson allows you to connect reading and mathematics in a fun and interesting way. The Hotel Infinity story is shared with students (copies can be made for their use) to raise questions about the logic and mathematics found in the text. Teacher resources are include vocabulary, background information, and questions to expand student thinking about the story.
3. D.PR.08.05 Find and/or compare the theoretical probability, the experimental probability, and/or the relative frequency of a given event.*
   1. Difference in Frequency New
   We seldom use the raw counts of something when we compare frequencies.
   2. Probability and Relative Frequency New
   Suppose there are six faces on a dice. When we roll the dice and the number on the top of the dice is 1, we define this as a successful event.
   3. Relative Frequency Histogram. New
   A relative frequency histogram compares each class interval to the total number of items. For example, the first interval ($1–$5) contains 8 out of the total of 32 items, so the relative frequency of the first class interval is 8/32
4. D.PR.08.06 Understand the difference between independent and dependent events, and recognize common misconceptions involving probability, e.g., Alice rolls a 6 on a die three times in a row; she is just as likely to roll a 6 on the fourth roll as she was on any previous roll.
   1. Independent and Dependent Events 
      After a brief explanation and example of independent and dependent events, the student conducts experiments, tally results, and determine probability to find the number of yellow chips in a bag.
   2. Math Goodies: Probability Independent Events
      Introduces probability by giving examples and interactive samples. Introduction to independent events with challenging exercises, as well as interactive games and puzzles are included.  Challenging quiz for students is found at the end of the lesson.
   3. Replacement and Probability
      This site is a teacher lesson plan which goes through a step by step description of the differences between dependent and independent events. It allows the teacher to use hands-on activities to show students the difference. It then has follow up questions for the students.
   4. Simulating Probability Situations
   Students can use interactive box models to explore probability. Open-ended questions are included. Bar graphs of the experiments are automatically generated.

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