Description
Statistics come alive with this differentiated, student-led activity! The Pet Rock Activity & Task gives students an opportunity to gather, organize, and analyze random data. Students get creative while personalizing their own Pet Rock. Data from individual rocks is then measure, shared, compiled, analyzed, graphed, and displayed.
Students will:
- Create a pet in the Pet Rock Activity.
- Use precision to weigh the rocks and record the data.
- Construct a graphical display of the data.
- Calculate numerical summaries to generalize trends.
- Design a mathematical model of the data.
You do the prep… students do the work. You will enjoy getting them ready and setting them free to explore.
Students love being creative while showing off their individuality in a collaborative atmosphere of experimentation. They will enjoy exploring mathematical models, engaging in mathematical conversations, and finding real-world conclusions.
Statistics will become a task that everyone looks forward to. Inquiry-based learning leads to greater retention. It’s a win-win!
The Pet Rock Activity & Task has been differentiated for you. The original version of the task is geared toward 6th & 7th grade math standards. The “boulder” version is customized for 8th grade and high school math standards. I have students us a calculator to keep the focus on statistics concepts rather than long division. The activity and task take 60 to 90 minutes to complete depending on the mathematical skills of the students.
The following downloads are included with this project:
- Instructional Guide for Teachers
- Pet Rock Activity and Task Student Worksheet for 6th & 7th Grade
- Pet Rock Activity and Task Student Worksheet for 8th and High School
- Differentiation Suggestions
- Two Rubrics, one for each student level
- Project Supply List
- Five extension Tasks for advanced and GATE students
- Notetaker example of finding the Inter-Quartile Range (for substitute teachers)
- Scatter Plot & Line of Best Fit Example (for substitute teachers)
- Pictures of students in action.
The Pet Rock Activity & Task addresses the following Common Core State Standards: 6.SP.A.2, 6.SP.A.3, 6.SP.B.4, 6.SP.B.5, 7.SP.A.1, 7.SP.A.2, 7.SP.A.3, 7.SP.A.4, 8.SP.A.1, 8.SP.A.2, 8.SP.A.3, HSS-IDA.A.1, HSS-IDA.A.2, HSS-IDA.A.3, HSS-IDA.A.4, HSS.IDA.B.6, HSS-IDA.C.7, MP1, MP2, MP3, MP4, MP5, MP6, AND MP7.
***********************************************************************************************
What other teachers like you have said:
“This was such a fun way for students engage towards the end of the year. The project extensions were great for my high school students!”
Sara M, 11th & 12th grade
“Who doesn’t love Pet Rocks! Students were strongly engaged.”
Donna H., 6th grade
************************************************************************************************
You may also enjoy…
Unique Survey Project – Project Based Learning (PBL) with Math
Da Vinci Project – Color by Number with Statistics
Olympic Gymnasts – 6th Grade SBAC Math Performance Task (PT) Test Prep
Snowfall – High School SBAC Math Performance Task (PT) Test Prep
*************************************************************************************************
For more Project Based Learning with Mathematics available at my store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Absolute-Value. These materials were created and provided by Absolute Value Enterprises, LLC.
**************************************************************************************************
Customer Tips: How to get TPT credit for future purchases:
Go to your “My Purchases” page. Next to each purchase, you'll see a “Provide Feedback” button. Simply click it and you will be taken to a page where you can give a quick rating and leave a short comment for the product. Each time you give feedback, TPT gives you feedback credits that you may use to lower the cost of your future purchases. I'd really love it if you'd rate the resource after downloading! Feedback is so VERY important!
**************************************************************************************************
Follow my Store
Click on the green star next to my store logo to receive upcoming sales, freebie and product launches, and email updates!
Here's to a successful year!
Absolute Value
Wendy Petty
Petty415@gmail.com
Pet Rock Statistics Activity & Task - Project Based Learning (PBL) with Math
Highlights
Description
Statistics come alive with this differentiated, student-led activity! The Pet Rock Activity & Task gives students an opportunity to gather, organize, and analyze random data. Students get creative while personalizing their own Pet Rock. Data from individual rocks is then measure, shared, compiled, analyzed, graphed, and displayed.
Students will:
- Create a pet in the Pet Rock Activity.
- Use precision to weigh the rocks and record the data.
- Construct a graphical display of the data.
- Calculate numerical summaries to generalize trends.
- Design a mathematical model of the data.
You do the prep… students do the work. You will enjoy getting them ready and setting them free to explore.
Students love being creative while showing off their individuality in a collaborative atmosphere of experimentation. They will enjoy exploring mathematical models, engaging in mathematical conversations, and finding real-world conclusions.
Statistics will become a task that everyone looks forward to. Inquiry-based learning leads to greater retention. It’s a win-win!
The Pet Rock Activity & Task has been differentiated for you. The original version of the task is geared toward 6th & 7th grade math standards. The “boulder” version is customized for 8th grade and high school math standards. I have students us a calculator to keep the focus on statistics concepts rather than long division. The activity and task take 60 to 90 minutes to complete depending on the mathematical skills of the students.
The following downloads are included with this project:
- Instructional Guide for Teachers
- Pet Rock Activity and Task Student Worksheet for 6th & 7th Grade
- Pet Rock Activity and Task Student Worksheet for 8th and High School
- Differentiation Suggestions
- Two Rubrics, one for each student level
- Project Supply List
- Five extension Tasks for advanced and GATE students
- Notetaker example of finding the Inter-Quartile Range (for substitute teachers)
- Scatter Plot & Line of Best Fit Example (for substitute teachers)
- Pictures of students in action.
The Pet Rock Activity & Task addresses the following Common Core State Standards: 6.SP.A.2, 6.SP.A.3, 6.SP.B.4, 6.SP.B.5, 7.SP.A.1, 7.SP.A.2, 7.SP.A.3, 7.SP.A.4, 8.SP.A.1, 8.SP.A.2, 8.SP.A.3, HSS-IDA.A.1, HSS-IDA.A.2, HSS-IDA.A.3, HSS-IDA.A.4, HSS.IDA.B.6, HSS-IDA.C.7, MP1, MP2, MP3, MP4, MP5, MP6, AND MP7.
***********************************************************************************************
What other teachers like you have said:
“This was such a fun way for students engage towards the end of the year. The project extensions were great for my high school students!”
Sara M, 11th & 12th grade
“Who doesn’t love Pet Rocks! Students were strongly engaged.”
Donna H., 6th grade
************************************************************************************************
You may also enjoy…
Unique Survey Project – Project Based Learning (PBL) with Math
Da Vinci Project – Color by Number with Statistics
Olympic Gymnasts – 6th Grade SBAC Math Performance Task (PT) Test Prep
Snowfall – High School SBAC Math Performance Task (PT) Test Prep
*************************************************************************************************
For more Project Based Learning with Mathematics available at my store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Absolute-Value. These materials were created and provided by Absolute Value Enterprises, LLC.
**************************************************************************************************
Customer Tips: How to get TPT credit for future purchases:
Go to your “My Purchases” page. Next to each purchase, you'll see a “Provide Feedback” button. Simply click it and you will be taken to a page where you can give a quick rating and leave a short comment for the product. Each time you give feedback, TPT gives you feedback credits that you may use to lower the cost of your future purchases. I'd really love it if you'd rate the resource after downloading! Feedback is so VERY important!
**************************************************************************************************
Follow my Store
Click on the green star next to my store logo to receive upcoming sales, freebie and product launches, and email updates!
Here's to a successful year!
Absolute Value
Wendy Petty
Petty415@gmail.com
