Practice describing variability with hurricane wind speeds data

Make a dot plot to show how variable the windspeeds of hurricanes in 2005 were.
Details

Activity Type: 

Mini-Lesson

Types of Instruction: 

  • Data Practice

Grades: 

  • 6, 7, 8

Subjects: 

  • Earth Science

Topics: 

  • Earth's Surface Systems, Weather and Climate

Statistical Concepts: 

  • Statistical questions, Variability

Skills: 

  • Describing variability

Graph Types: 

  • Dot plot

Standards: 

Practice 1
Asking questions and defining problems
Practice 4
Analyzing and interpreting data
Practice 5
Using mathematics and computational thinking
Practice 7
Engaging in argument from evidence
Crosscutting 1
Patterns
Crosscutting 5
Energy and matter: Flows, cycles, and conservation
MS-ESS2-6
Develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates.
6.SP-2
Understand that a set of data collected to answer a statistical question has a distribution which can be described by its center, spread, and overall shape.
6.SP-4
Display numerical data in plots on a number line, including dot plots, histograms, and box plots.
Literacy.RI.6.4
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings.
Literacy.W.6.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
Literacy.W.6.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Literacy.W.7.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
Literacy.W.7.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Literacy.W.8.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
Literacy.W.8.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Literacy.RST.6-8.7
Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).
Literacy.RST.9-10.7
Translate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text into visual form (e.g., a table or chart) and translate information expressed visually or mathematically (e.g., in an equation) into words.
Crosscutting 3
Scale, proportion, and quantity
Activity Files

Data Activity : 

Mini Lesson 2 (PRAC) Hurricane Wind Speeds

Data Sets: 

Hurricane Data (xlsx)

Data Literacy Instructionals: 

Show and Describe Variability
Make a box plot from a dot plot
Getting familiar with frequency plot types
Measuring Tides
Making a dot plot and scaling its axis
Language for describing variability