How big was the dinosaur that left this footprint?
8th GradeAssociations in dataabout 3 minCCSS 8.SP.A.1Construct and interpret scatter plots for bivariate measurement data to investigate patterns of association between two quantities. Describe patterns such as clustering, outliers, positive or negative association, linear association, and nonlinear association.CCSS 8.SP.A.2Know that straight lines are widely used to model relationships between two quantitative variables. For scatter plots that suggest a linear association, informally fit a straight line, and informally assess the model fit by judging the closeness of the data points to the line.+0
Put a class's feet and heights on a chart, then read a dinosaur's hip off its footprint.
Lesson Plan
Explore scatter plots and lines of best fit, then use a line to make predictions.
Question: Ask what students spot and what they are curious about. Read “How many of your footprints tall are you?” aloud. Have each student guess and say why.
Question: Read “How high was the hip of this dinosaur?” aloud. Have partners explain their guesses to each other.
Big idea: Pause. Ask a student to say the idea in their own words.
Big idea: Pause. Have partners explain the idea to each other.
Your turn: Have students try their own. Ask them to predict before they test.
How to run it
Whole classPut the lesson on the board. At each choice the class votes, then you select the winner.
SoloShare the link, QR code, or post to Google Classroom. Each student gets to take their own path.
