Not Enough Hours in the Day? Daylight Data Collection
A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively
engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.
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Phase:
Before/Engage
Activity:
This activity is a great "Before" activity to make light of the relationship between sunlight and seasons.
The class then collaboratively, along with the teacher, puts the information into a spreadsheet. Students and teachers decide what to name the columns and how to enter the information accurately.
Once the data has been entered the teacher leads a conversation about any trends or things that students notice about the length of the day and their relationship with seasons.
Next, the teacher leads the class in using spreadsheet software such as Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers to turn the collected data into a chart. Together, the class makes all the decisions as to which chart shows the data the best, labeling the x- and y-axis, and choosing a title for the chart.
Because there may be multiple charts that can represent the data accurately, show students what the data looks like in different chart formats such as a bar graph or a line graph. To further show the connection between the data and the chart, alter some of the information so that students can see how this affects the data visually in the chart.
Teacher observation during the building of the datasheet.
Teacher observation during the building of the chart.
Teacher observation during reflections and questions.
Advanced Preparation:
On the website, https://www.timeanddate.com/, select Sun Calculator under the drop-down menu titled, "Sun&Moon." Then, enter your location information in order to reach the page on which your daylight data is displayed. Daylight hours are listed under the graph as you drag the line to the month and day you wish to see the hours on.
Print the graphic organizer "Daylight Hours" for each of your students.
Have access to a computer lab and/or computers for your students.
If the duration of time is 10 hours and 15 minutes, write it like this: 10:15.
1
December
January
February
2
March
April
May
3
June
July
August
4
September
October
November
What do you notice about the length of days?
Does the length of day affect the season? How?
Variation Tips (optional):
Technologically savvy and experienced students may be capable of creating the chart themselves.
Depending on the ability level of your students, you may want a more advanced group to create a sheet of their own while others are interpreting given sheets.
Notes or Recommendations (optional):
Keywords and Search Tags:
chart, data, date, digital literacy, graph, math, science, sunlight, sunrise, sunset, time