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Olympic Graphs
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Subject: | Math
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Grade: | 6-8, 9-12
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Brief Description
Students create graphs comparing present and past winning results (points or times) of various Olympic sports.
Objectives
Students create graphs comparing present and past winning results (points or times) in various timed Olympic sports.
Keywords
Olympics, sports, graphs, winning, times
Materials Needed
- graph paper
- pens or pencils
- library sources, almanacs, or printouts from the Web sites listed in the Lesson Plan
- daily newspaper or television reports or site noted in lesson
- a spreadsheet program (optional)
- computers with Internet access (optional)
Lesson Plan
- Divide the class into small groups and distribute graph paper. Review different ways to create graphs.
- Assign each group a sport, or have each group choose a sport.
- Tell students to create graphs showing the winning times or points in two or three past Summer Olympic Games for their sport. Students may use library sources or almanacs or Fact Monster Summer Olympics Through the Years. (The site's Event-By-Event page is a good source of record data.)
- Have students follow that sport in the present Olympic Games using daily newspapers, television reports, or the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Index. Challenge students to create graphs showing the winning times or points for their sport in the current Olympic games. Have students report the differences in present and past winning times or points.
Variation: Have students create their graphs using a spreadsheet program.
Extension: Repeat the activity using medal standings from past and present games from library sources, almanacs, or Fact Monster's All-Time Medal Standings 1896-2004 or Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Index.
Assessment
Evaluate students' graphs.
Lesson Plan Source
Education World
Submitted By
Lois Lewis
National Standards
Math:
NM.5-8.1
NM.5-8.2
NM.5-8.4
NM.5-8.8
NM.5-8.10
NM.9-12.1
NM.9-12.2
NM.9-12.4
NM.9-12.10
Originally published 09/11/2000
Links last updated 07/15/2008
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