Spreadsheets

Do larger pumpkins have more seeds? Mr.Patrick Oliver asked this question to his second graders. To answer the question that Mr. Oliver gave them, students were divided into groups and collected data by gutting different sized pumpkins and counting the seeds that each one had. Each group had to then take the information that they gathered and enter it into a pre made spreadsheet that Mr. Oliver had generated. After all the data had been entered the students made a chart to show the findings. Students then analyzed the data that they entered into the spreadsheet. At the end of the exercise the class compared the findings from prediction that they had made earlier, in this experiment the finding was yes, larger pumpkins do have more seeds.

For my class I would modify Mr. Oliver's project. Instead of answering the question, Do larger pumpkins have more seeds? I would ask my third graders the question, "Do flowers grow better if they are played music while growing?" I would have groups of students plant flowers and play different kinds of music while the flowers were growing. Each group would take measurements over the course of four weeks and write down how much the flower grew. In the end the groups would compare how well the flowers grew compared with the music that was played during the growing time. Like Mr. Oliver, I would generate a spreadsheet ahead of time so that all students had to do is enter the data that they collected. Students would then generate a bar graph to show the results of all the groups. Students would then analyze the data and be able to answer the question, Do flowers grow better when music is played to them while growing? After seeing the results on the chart, students will make a conclusion based on the data results.