Tidy desks

Tidy desks

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
On a piece of card, write whether you think your desk or tote tray is "Tidy" or "Untidy". Place your card on your desk or tote tray with the writing face down.
 
a)
Organise information into the 2 × 2 array below about the "Tidiness" or "Untidiness" of students' desks or tote trays in your class/group.  
For each desk or tote tray you are to:
 
 
  • decide whether you think it is 'tidy' or 'untidy', then
  • read on each card how each person rated their own desks or tote trays and put the card back face down, then
  • fill in the 2 × 2 array below.
 
 
b)
 
Make a statement comparing the results from your 2 × 2 array.
 
 
 
 
Task administration: 

This task requires physical space for students to move around and equipment.

Equipment

Pieces of card (approximately 3 cm × 10 cm); tape.

Demonstrate what students are to do as they go around each desk/tote tray.

Level:
4
Curriculum info: 
Maths, Statistics, Statistical investigations
Key Competencies: 
Thinking, Using language, symbols, and texts
Keywords: 
data collection, table interpretation, bi-variate data, table construction
Description of task: 
This practical task requires students to collect group/class data on students opinions on desk tidiness, present their data in a 2 × 2 array and make a statement based on their findings.
Curriculum Links: 
This resource can be used to help to identify students' ability to collect and interpret bivariate data in a 2 by 2 table.
 
Key competencies
This resource involves exploring and using patterns and relationships in data and communicating findings. These relate to the Key Competencies: Thinking and Using language, symbols and text.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Statistical investigations, set 5
within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 

Scoring:

 

1 mark
2 marks
or
1 mark
2 marks
or

1 mark

a)

Data collected in some systematic way.
All correct sub-totals and overall total corresponding to the data recorded
in the array.
At least three totals (sub- or overall) given in the array.
Data accurately recorded. To check this collect and collate the self-ratings
on the slips of paper. This will give the totals for "They think it is
tidy/untidy".
1-2 errors made in data collected, including:

  • an omission;
  • a transposition;
  • a repetition; or
  • an addition.

1 mark

b)

A comparative statement based on the data collected, e.g., "I agreed with most people who thought their desks were untidy."
Do not accept statements that are not comparisons, e.g., "Five people thought their desks were untidy."