Scatter Plots & Line of Best Fit Project – Theme Parks – 8th-9th Grade – PRINT

Description

Want to encourage your students to see the value of math in everyday life? This math project allows students to apply what they know about scatter plots and linear equations to graph real world data, create lines of fit and make predictions.

In this real world math project, students graph and analyze real world data about theme park attendance. The goal is to look for correlation with different factors (such as weather or population) to see what affects attendance and what does not.

Once they determine correlation, they choose points to create and write an equation for a line of best fit in order to make predictions about future theme park attendance.

This is a fun way for 8th grade or Algebra 1 students to put their knowledge of scatter plots & linear equations to work in a way that makes it engaging & purposeful.

(You could possibly even use this with Algebra 2 students as a review of linear functions, and writing linear equations.)

There are several parts to this project. First, students use the given data to create line graphs. This helps them see the need for a scatter plot in order to determine correlation.

In the second part, students create 4 different scatter plots with real world data to try and determine correlation.

In part three, students create a scatter plot and choose two points from the graph to create lines of best fit and write an equation for the lines. They will write the equation in point-slope form as well as slope-intercept form.

They then use their equations to make predictions of future attendance.

There are reflection questions to consider at each step of the project, along with clear directions to walk students through each step.

Lastly, for students who are interested (and have time), in part four students choose their own data set to graph with annual attendance in order to look for correlation. They then answer reflection questions about their scatter plot. (Part four is optional if you are short on time).

There is a final report page where students can reflect on the project as a whole and share their findings.

Math Skills Needed for this Project:

• Create appropriate scales for x- and y-axis to graph points
• Plot real life data points on the coordinate plane
• Create scatter plots to look for correlation in data
• Draw a line of best fit to model data
• Calculate the slope of a line from two points
• Write an equation for the line of best fit (point-slope form and slope-intercept form) and use the equation to make predictions about the future

Ways to Use the Project:

If you would like to complete the project in class, students could work with partners to split up the work and discuss each scatter plot together.

However, you could also assign this as an individual project at the end of your linear equations & scatter plots chapter, to be completed at home.

This could also work as an extra credit project, early finisher challenge or end-of-year application project.

Included in the Download:

• Instructions/Tips for teachers
• Cover page for the project
• Student handout pages to guide them through all 5 parts of the project
• National Parks “Trip Report” summary page for students to record all their final calculations & answer discussion questions
• “About the Parks” pages, where students can share pictures and fun facts about the parks they choose to visit
• Grading Rubric with assigned tasks/points values
• Blank Grading Rubric, allowing you to create your own criteria/point values
• Answer keys where applicable (some answers will vary, based on student choices)

Love learning through problem solving? Check out these additional real life math projects:

• SHOPPING SPREE PERCENT PROJECT
• BUILD YOUR OWN AMUSEMENT PARK PROJECT
• SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK PROJECT (CIRCLE MEASURES, VOLUME, INDIRECT MEASUREMENT)

Please Note: This product is a downloadable pdf file. No physical product will be shipped to you. In addition, this resource is for personal use in the home or classroom only. You may not share, distribute, alter or post this resource online in any way. Thank you for your honesty!