What a Point in a Scatter Plot Means (IM Grade 8, Unit 6, Lesson 3)
Task
Lesson Purpose The analysis of scatter plots continues with data about the weight of automobiles and their fuel efficiency.. Students connect points in the scatter plot with rows of data in a table, but now there is a third column that gives a name to each pair. After picking out information about points in the scatter plot and table, students begin to think about how scatter plots can help them make predictions. Specifically, when looking at two particular points in the scatter plot, students are asked if the results are surprising given the overall trend of the data. In later lessons, students develop more sophisticated tools for answering questions like this (specifically, by fitting lines to the data), so a heuristic discussion is all that is expected at this point. How Tuva Enhances the lesson Tuva allows teachers to isolate individual cars or groups of cars, making it easier for students to compare specific cases exactly as the lesson asks. Unlike a static graph or an applet where students may need to scroll or click through multiple views, Tuva displays all relevant data on one screen, with different colors and labels for each car. This makes comparisons more immediate and helps students focus on interpreting trends rather than managing the display of points. Providing these tools supports authentic data analysis skills students will use in real-world settings and reduces cognitive load, allowing them to focus on understanding relationships between weight and fuel efficiency. Tuva also supports accessibility by offering visual and interactive access, so all students—including those with challenges in visual-spatial processing or organization—can engage meaningfully with the activity.
Cars and Fuel Efficiency When people shop for cars, they often think about how much gas the car uses. Some cars are very heavy, and some are much lighter. Some cars can travel far on a small amount of gas, and others cannot.
Topics and standards: 8-SP-A-1, 8-SP-A-3, Grade 8, Illustrative Math & Tuva