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Science lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 30 minutes

Interpreting data from tables and graphs

Working scientifically

CCSS NGSS.SEP 4CCSS NGSS.SEP 5England: KS4 Working scientifically

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Interpreting data from tables and graphs.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Reading tables and line graphs; Repeat readings, means and anomalies

Leads to: Analyse climate data: COâ‚‚ records and temperature trends

Materials: Simple equipment for a fair test, Results table template, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Reading tables and line graphs; Repeat readings, means and anomalies). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. A group measured the temperature rise in a reaction three times: 14, 16 and 13 °C. What is the mean? Give your answer to 1 decimal place. → 14.3 °CPrompt: Add the three readings.
  2. Parachute area (cm²) → Time to fall (s) 5 → 21 4 → 28 6 → 35 40 → 42 50 → 49 What happens to “Time to fall (s)” as “Parachute area (cm²)” increases? (it stays the same / it goes up then down / it increases / it decreases) → it increasesPrompt: Read down the second column. Are the numbers getting bigger or smaller?
  3. A group measured the temperature rise in a reaction three times: 17, 15 and 19 °C. What is the mean? Give your answer to 1 decimal place. → 17 °CPrompt: Add the three readings.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a simple experiment with one thing changed and ask what makes it a fair test.
  • Share the objective: Interpreting data from tables and graphs. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Study: Cooling coffee. Time (min) → Temperature (°C) 0 → 83 5 → 73 10 → 63 15 → 53 20 → 43 Estimate the value at 17.5, assuming the pattern between neighbouring points is a straight line.
  • Step 1: (53 + 43) Ă· 2 = 48
  • Step 2: So the answer is: 48
  • Answer: 48
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Study: Light and pondweed. Distance from lamp (cm) → Bubbles per minute 10 → 52 20 → 46 30 → 40 40 → 34 50 → 28 Estimate the value at 15, assuming the pattern between neighbouring points is a straight line. → 49Prompt: 15 lies halfway between 10 and 20.
  2. Study: Cooling coffee. Time (min) → Temperature (°C) 0 → 84 5 → 74 10 → 64 15 → 54 20 → 44 How does “Temperature (°C)” change as “Time (min)” increases? (It stays about the same. / It decreases steadily. / It increases steadily. / It increases to a maximum, then decreases.) → It decreases steadily.Prompt: Read the second column from top to bottom.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Study: Stretching a spring. Force (N) → Extension (cm) 0 → 0 1 → 4.5 2 → 9 3 → 13.5 4 → 18 5 → 22.5 At which value of “Force (N)” was the lowest value recorded? (0 / 3 / 4 / 5) → 0Prompt: Find the smallest number in the second column.
  2. Study: Cooling coffee. Time (min) → Temperature (°C) 0 → 82 5 → 72 10 → 62 15 → 52 20 → 42 How does “Temperature (°C)” change as “Time (min)” increases? (It decreases steadily. / It increases steadily. / It increases to a maximum, then decreases. / It stays about the same.) → It decreases steadily.Prompt: Read the second column from top to bottom.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Reading tables and line graphs.
  • Use concrete materials: simple equipment for a fair test.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Analyse climate data: COâ‚‚ records and temperature trends.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-10.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Interpreting data from tables and graphs

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Study: Enzyme activity. Temperature (°C) → Reaction rate (units/min) 10 → 0 20 → 20 30 → 43 40 → 66 50 → 43 60 → 20 Estimate the value at 15, assuming the pattern between neighbouring points is a straight line.

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    Study: Stretching a spring. Force (N) → Extension (cm) 0 → 0 1 → 4.5 2 → 9 3 → 13.5 4 → 18 5 → 22.5 How does “Extension (cm)” change as “Force (N)” increases?

    • A. It increases steadily.
    • B. It decreases steadily.
    • C. It increases to a maximum, then decreases.
    • D. It stays about the same.

  3. Question 3

    Study: Stretching a spring. Force (N) → Extension (cm) 0 → 0 1 → 4 2 → 8 3 → 12 4 → 16 5 → 20 At which value of “Force (N)” was the lowest value recorded?

    • A. 0
    • B. 1
    • C. 3
    • D. 4

  4. Question 4

    Study: Solubility of a salt in water. Temperature (°C) → Solubility (g per 100 g water) 0 → 12 20 → 18 40 → 24 60 → 30 80 → 36 Estimate the value at 30, assuming the pattern between neighbouring points is a straight line.

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    Study: Light and pondweed. Distance from lamp (cm) → Bubbles per minute 10 → 40 20 → 34 30 → 28 40 → 22 50 → 16 How does “Bubbles per minute” change as “Distance from lamp (cm)” increases?

    • A. It stays about the same.
    • B. It increases steadily.
    • C. It increases to a maximum, then decreases.
    • D. It decreases steadily.

  6. Question 6

    Study: Light and pondweed. Distance from lamp (cm) → Bubbles per minute 10 → 55 20 → 49 30 → 43 40 → 37 50 → 31 At which value of “Distance from lamp (cm)” was the lowest value recorded?

    • A. 10
    • B. 20
    • C. 30
    • D. 50

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Answer key: Interpreting data from tables and graphs

  1. 1. 10

  2. 2. A. It increases steadily.

  3. 3. A. 0

  4. 4. 21

  5. 5. D. It decreases steadily.

  6. 6. D. 50