Jumping
Jack Experiment
Sixth Grade Common Core State Standard
EE.C.9
• Collect experimental data and
organize data in a table
• Identify patterns and relationships
between variables using information
in a table
Mathematical Goals
• Talk about bicycles and bicycle tours.
Read about the bicycle trip that the five
college students are planning. Discuss
the questions in the Getting Ready.
• Divide into groups of four for the stamina
experiment. Perform the jumping jack
experiment and then complete Problem
1.1.
Launch
YOU WILL NEED A GROUP OF AT
LEAST FOUR PEOPLE
•
•
•
•
A jumper (to do jumping jacks)
A timer ( to keep track of time)
A counter (to count the jumping jacks)
A recorder (to write down the number of
jumping jacks)
As a group, decide who will do each task:
1. When the timer says “go,” the jumper
begins doing jumping jacks.
2. The jumper continues jumping for 2 minutes.
3. The counter counts the jumping jacks out
loud.
4. Every 10 seconds, the timer says “time” and
the recorder records the total number of
jumping jacks the jumper has done.
**Each student will take a turn at each task.
DISCUSS
As a whole class, share the different ways you can
collect the data for the Jumping Jack Experiment.
• What are some advantages and disadvantages to
the ideas shared?
• What are some thinks your group has to
consider in order to organize the data?
As a group, decide who will do each task:
1. When the timer says “go,” the jumper
begins doing jumping jacks.
2. The jumper continues jumping for 2 minutes.
3. The counter counts the jumping jacks out
loud.
4. Every 10 seconds, the timer says “time” and
the recorder records the total number of
jumping jacks the jumper has done.
**Each student will take a turn at each task.
• When finished collecting data, make a
copy of the data for your group.
• Within your group, discuss possible
explanations for what the data in the
table shows. Consider all data sets
when answering.
Explore
Collaborate and Listen…
• Share findings about rates of jumping jacks as whole group.
What does the jumping jack experiment suggest about
bicycle-riding speed over time?
• Review the process of making a table to record data:
 Could you have chosen a different time interval for recording
data in your table?
 How did the jumping jack rates in your group change as time
passed? How is this shown in your tables?
 What might this pattern suggest about how bike-riding speed
would change over a day’s time on the bicycle tour?
Summarize
• Create coordinate graph of data in a table
• Identify patterns and relationships between
variables using information in a graph
(dependent/independent variables)
• Compare table and graph representations of the
same data
• Consider data values between plotted points
• Compare patterns of change in a table and graph
Extend