"Tracking the Temperature"

Objective:

Using Microsoft Excel, students will track and record the temperature for one week at 2-hour intervals during the day. They will create a spreadsheet to record the average daily temperature, the average temperature for the week, and graph the average daily temperature.

Anticipatory Set:

Discuss with students that we can determine weather/temperature patterns by recording the temperature at intervals over time.

Procedures (Model/Lead/Test Format):

Initial Instruction:

The teacher will:
1- Show students how to read a thermometer in degrees Fahrenheit.
2- Allow students to practice reading sample thermometers drawn on the overhead screen.
3- Take students outside to record the temperature on the thermometer at 8:00AM, 10:00AM, 12:00PM, 2:00PM.
4- Record the temperatures on a sample excel page on the board.
5- Average the interval temperatures to get an average for the day.

Guided Practice:

Check for understanding (recognition to recall)

6- Allow students to record the temperature during 4-intervals throughout the day.
7- Help students record their temperatures on a practice table.
8- Assist individual students in setting up a table to record the temperature on a spreadsheet.

Independent Practice:

9- Instruct students to record the temperature at 8:00AM, 10:00AM, 12:00PM, and 2:00PM for one week.
10- Instruct students to transfer their data to their Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.
11- Instruct students to average their daily and weekly temperatures and to create a graph on the average daily temperatures.

Formative Evaluation:

Students will turn in their spreadsheets and graphs.

Evaluation:

The teacher will check for accurate recording of temperatures.

Criteria:

90% accuracy in recording daily temperature.

See Sample Spreadsheet Return to annotations