We eat what??? (Connecting Social Action to NJASK Test Prep)

As we were learning about eating health food and nutrients, the students began to record each item they ate for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. All students were given a "Daily Food Diary" and were asked to log everything they ate for 4 days. At the conclusion of the 4 day period they graphed the information and analyzed it by answering 6 questions. One of the questions on the sheet asked them if their was "Is their a group that you should be consuming, or eating, more of?". All students were able to identify that based on their "Daily Food Diary Bar Graph" they needed to eat more vegetables. They based their answer on their prior knowledge of serving sizes recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture, http://www.choosemyplate.gov/.

The following work samples illustrate how students displayed their data on a bar graph and were able to analyze it. Students worked independently to create the Bar Graph and answer the questions after teacher guided practice.

Student Bar Graph Work Sample 1

Student Bar Graph Work Sample 2

Student Bar Graph Work Sample 3

This lesson was designed to be test preparation for the NJASK exam that the third graders will be taking in May. I created the lesson to meet the objectives listed on my grade level curriculum map, which outlined different skills and strategies to review before the exam. 

Curriculum Map Objectives

 Bar Graphs/ Pictographs

• reading and interpreting information
• understanding keys
• word problems/ open ended

Alignment with the Common Core Standards -

Represent and interpret data.

3.MD.3. Draw a scaled picture graph and a scaled bar graph to represent a data set with several categories. Solve one- and two-step “how many more” and “how many less” problems using information presented in scaled bar graphs. For example, draw a bar graph in which each square in the bar graph might represent 5 pets. 
http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards/mathematics/grade-3/measurement-and-data/