An Introduction to Data Reading and Computations

Christeen Brown                Robert Fulton Elementary
                               5300 S. Hermitage St
                               Chicago IL 60609
                               (312) 535-9000

Objectives:

This lesson is designed for grade levels 3-5

Upon completion of the lesson, the students should be able to:

L Identify data on the horizontal (x) axis and vertical (y) axis
L Read numbered pounds on a weight scale
L Estimate pounds upon sight before given known weight
L Identify actual weight
L Understand the importance of controlling body weight
L Observe fat, calorie, sugar and sodium intake of certain foods compared with 
  the daily recommended allowances
L Discover and apply rules of computations for determining how much weight to 
  gain, lose or retain
L Design their own data chart   

Materials Needed:

L Nutritional Facts brochures of several fast food restaurants
L Bathroom scale
L Calculator (optional)
L Paper
L Writing tools

Recommended Strategy:

L Have students guess the weight of their classmates
L Have students weigh themselves on the scale
L Create a data chart (guessed weight compared to actual weight)
L Choose a routine menu from three of the different fast food restaurant 
  brochures
L Locate the items on the data chart and list the calorie, sugar, fat and sodium 
  intake of each of the chosen items 
L Compare the compiled data of a regular menu to the daily recommended 
  allowances
L Decide whether their is a need to lose, gain or maintain weight according to 
  findings after computing totals of data

Performance Assessment:

Demonstrate a usage of how to control weight using basic computation of data 
chart readings.  Incorporate this activity into becoming healthy the 
mathematical way. 

    This project is best used in teaching Fitness the mathematical way.