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Course, Subject

Algebra I (Next Generation), Algebra II (Next Generation), Math, Science & Technology, Mathematics (NYS P-12 Next Generation)

Assessment

• Data collection is evaluated on basis of accuracy.
• Spreadsheets, graphs, and charts are evaluated.
• Completion of laboratory report is a requirement.

Author

Missy Weber, Thomas Edison High School

Duration

5 days

Description

Objectives:

• Students will collect data through measurement and access data on the Internet.
• Students will generate and analyze graphs.
• Students will generate a laboratory report.

Activity:

• Teacher introduces the activity to students and identifies an area around the school where students can put their tomato stakes in the ground.
• Divide students into small groups to gather data.
• Each group marks and measures shadow lengths for their tomato stake, and uses a compass to measure the sun's azimuth at that time.
• Each class posts their information so all students will have access to data about shadow lengths and azimuths for different times of the day.
• Students use their data (length of shadow and height of stake) to calculate the sun's altitude for each shadow marked. This could be done with astrolabes.
• Students photograph the arrangement of stakes with a digital camera for inclusion in their lab reports.
• Students use the Internet to access solar data from the United States Naval Observatory. They find the sun's altitude throughout the day for their location and date the lab was performed.
• Students import this data and copy it into a spreadsheet program, where they compare their laboratory results to those obtained from the Internet.
• Students go back to the Internet to obtain data for another date (i.e., December 21 or June 21), and copy that information into the spreadsheet.
• Students graph data from the two dates, and compare graphs to explain how the altitude of the sun changes.
• Students combine their knowledge of proportions with the Internet data to calculate the length of the stake's shadow at noon on that date.
• Students generate a laboratory report (using a word processing program), which include charts and graphs from a spreadsheet program.

Website(s)

United States Naval Observatory

Materials / Resources

• Computer with Internet access
• Digital camera
• Spreadsheet software (e.g., Microsoft Excel)
• Word processing software (e.g., Microsoft Word, WordPerfect)
• 10 tall tomato stakes, 100 small tomato stakes
• 10 compasses, 10 meter sticks, 10 protractors, string
• 10 astrolabes (optional), calculators, tangent tables (optional)
• Laboratory lab sheets

Source

Weber, Missy. “Investigating the Sun and Shadows.” In Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) Resource Guide with Core Curriculum. New York State Department of Education, 182.

Related Academic Standards

New York State

CDOS.C.2.1.A Students demonstrate the integration and application of academic and occupational skills in their school learning, work, and personal lives.

CDOS.C.2.1.C Students research, interpret, analyze, and evaluate information and experiences as related to academic knowledge and technical skills when completing a career plan.

CDOS.C.3a.TE.5.A Students apply their knowledge of technology to identify and solve problems.

CDOS.C.3a.MI.6.A Students use technology to acquire, organize, and communicate information by entering, modifying, retrieving, and storing data.

NY-6.SP.2 Understand that a set of quantitative data collected to answer a statistical question has a distribution which can be described by its center, spread, and overall shape.

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