Science lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 60 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 · 6 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.
- A group measured the time for a ball to roll down a ramp three times: 25, 24 and 27 s. What is the mean? Give your answer to 1 decimal place. → 25.3 sPrompt: Add the three readings.
- Number of cells → Bulb brightness (lux) 2 → 35 4 → 42 15 → 49 8 → 56 25 → 63 What happens to “Bulb brightness (lux)” as “Number of cells” increases? (it decreases / it stays the same / it goes up then down / it increases) → it increasesPrompt: Read down the second column. Are the numbers getting bigger or smaller?
- A group measured the temperature rise in a reaction three times: 12, 12 and 13 °C. What is the mean? Give your answer to 1 decimal place. → 12.3 °CPrompt: Add the three readings.
Hook · 6 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 · 12 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 · 12 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Study: Solubility of a salt in water. Temperature (°C) → Solubility (g per 100 g water) 0 → 12 20 → 28 40 → 44 60 → 60 80 → 76 Estimate the value at 70, assuming the pattern between neighbouring points is a straight line. → 68Prompt: 70 lies halfway between 60 and 80.
- Study: Enzyme activity. Temperature (°C) → Reaction rate (units/min) 10 → 0 20 → 20 30 → 40 40 → 60 50 → 40 60 → 20 How does “Reaction rate (units/min)” change as “Temperature (°C)” increases? (It increases steadily. / It decreases steadily. / It increases to a maximum, then decreases. / It stays about the same.) → It increases to a maximum, then decreases.Prompt: Read the second column from top to bottom.
You do: independent practice · 17 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 7 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Study: Cooling coffee. Time (min) → Temperature (°C) 0 → 82 5 → 72 10 → 62 15 → 52 20 → 42 At which value of “Time (min)” was the highest value recorded? (0 / 10 / 15 / 20) → 0Prompt: Find the largest number in the second column.
- 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 25, assuming the pattern between neighbouring points is a straight line. → 31.5Prompt: 25 lies halfway between 20 and 30.
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