T.A.L.K.S.

We've been talking about the scientific method but the most important part of science isn't that.  In fact is the ability to read a chart or graph.  I understand that not everyone is going to grow up and be a scientist but in order to be an intelligent consumer my students will need to be able to personally evaluate the quality of science they see in the media or in society.  People use science to lie and to mislead.  A graph that represents the data is a great way to discern the opinions from the facts.

Yesterday the students who had their homework done were able to participate in a sponge lab to find out how much water a sponge will hold.  Today they will graph the data.  I have some notes to give them about how to create a quality graph and then to interpret graphs they didn't create themselves.
The start up today is "What is required for a good graph?"