Graphing, Estimating, and Measuring Bananas

Jennifer Burns

Heather Dies

TEACHER INFORMATION

Title of lesson: Graphing, Estimating, and Measuring Bananas

Topics: Math: process-communication

product-number sense

Science: process-communicating

product-environment

Student Level: 2nd grade

Objective: By graphing, estimating, and measuring bananas, the students will be able to show their understanding of these concepts. The students will show their understanding by successfully completing all three activities.

Materials:

chalkboard
bananas(1 for every 3 students)
banana cut-outs(1 for each student)
paper clips
tape
markers

Prerequisite Skills: parts of a graph

Time Required: 20 minutes

TEACHING PROCEDURES

Introduction: Talk about rainforests with the students.

Review: Go over the parts of a graph.

Strategies:

Banana Graph

Ask the students to name some things that come from a rainforest. Write answers on board.
Tell students that we will be focusing on bananas for today's class period.
Hand out the banana cutouts to each student and have them write their name on the banana.
Then draw a graph on the board that states whether or not students like bananas.
Ask students who likes bananas. Have those students go and put their banana in the 'yes' column. Then ask those students who do not like bananas to go and put their bananas in the 'no' column.
Then count how many bananas are in each column and compare the two.

Banana Estimation

Pile the bananas on a table so the whole class can see them and ask students to estimate how many are in the pile.
Have the students write their estimation down on paper and then ask several students to share their answer with the rest of the class. Write these answers on the board.
Then count how many bananas are actually in the pile and compare that with the estimations given by the students.

Measuring Bananas

Distribute a supply of paper clips and one banana for every three students.
Have the students measure the length of their banana by hooking the paper clips together to match the length of their banana.
Once students have their paper clip chain completed, have them compare their results with another group. Have a couple of groups share results.

Conclusion: After completing all three activities, inform the students that they will be discussing types of animals from the rainforest next class period.
Evaluation: While students are working, walk around the room and check to make sure the students are participating and following directions.

EXTENSIONS
1. Discuss the kinds of animals that live in the different layers
  of the rainforest.
2. Make a rainforest in your classroom.

RESOURCES

Books from the library, the internet, magazines.

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