Objective:
Students will compare obesity populations within states by county using percentages.
Students will draw conclusions and determine relationships between eating habits, exercise and smoking rates, and percentages of obesity by county for two states, Washington and one other.
Mathematics State Standard:
7.6.G Extract and organize mathematical information from symbols, diagrams, and graphs to make inferences, draw conclusions, and justify reasoning.
Learning Activity:
1. From the “select a state” drop-down menu select “Washington.”
2. What does the size of the circle represent?
3. What does the color of the circle represent?
4. Hover your mouse over the different circles and find “Snohomish County.” For Snohomish County, record the percentages for the following categories:
a. % of population who are obese _________
b. % of population eating few fruits/vegetables _________
c. % of population who smokes _________
d. % of population who do not exercise _________
5. Hover your mouse over the different circles and find “Pacific County.” Record the percentages for the following categories:
a. % of population who are obese ________
b. % of population eating few fruits/vegetables ________
c. % of population who smokes ________
d. % of population who do not exercise ________
6. Compare the percentages for each category between the two counties. What do you notice? Be sure to include information from the graph to justify your answer.
7. Explore the three graphs in purple at the bottom of the page. What can you conclude about the relationship between obesity percentages and smoking, exercising and healthy eating habits? Use information from the graph to support your conclusion.
8. Choose another state and compare the data between two counties of different colored circles within that state. Record your information by category below.
9. How do the two counties of the state you chose compare to Washington for percentage of population who are obese, eat few fruits/vegetables, smoke and do not exercise? If there is a significant difference, why do you think that might be? Use information from the graphs to justify your answers.
Wow, I never really thought about the correlations between obesity and smoking before. I like that this chart allows you to zoom into your own neighborhood and compare with the rest of the country. I think it's important for kids to be able to relate and have interest in the data subject, so I think this is perfect :)
ReplyDeleteLiz,
ReplyDeleteGreat activity. It's a great way to get kids to compare populations and look for associations between variables. The only question I have is about question 9. The visualization only provides information about counties within states, not entire states, so are you asking kids to compare the counties from the two states?
Otherwise I it looks great!
Bryndal:
ReplyDeleteNice catch on question #9! I'll go back and revise it so it asks students to compare the counties in the state they chose to the two counties in Washington!