Paper Airplane Project

It is time . . . for once in your life, to legally create and throw a paper airplane in school! Making a paper airplane is an essential life skill, and we are going to battle it out in a paper airplane throwing competition. So let's get started!

Your task is to construct the best paper airplane you possibly can, toe the line, and let it fly. As a class we will collect data on the distance traveled by each students plane. Your job is to analyze the data using four different graphical representations: stem and leaf, box and whisker, dot plot, and a histogram.

1) Use the following link to construct either the "Bulldog Dart" or the "Harrier" with a 8.5 x 11 piece of paper.

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/09/16/how-to-make-the-worlds-best-paper-airplanes/

2) Start up your engines! Let's go outside

3) The distance traveled by each paper airplane (ft) is displayed below:

4) Watch this video to review how to make a stem and leaf plot:

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/pre-algebra/pre-algebra-math-reasoning/pre-algebra-stem-leaf/v/u08-l1-t2-we3-stem-and-leaf-plots

5) Order the data set from least to greatest

6) Using our data, create a stem and leaf plot on a separate piece of paper.

7) Find the mean, median, mode, range, and inter-quartile range (IQR).

8) Watch this video to review how to make a box and whisker plot:

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/probability/data-distributions-a1/box--whisker-plots-a1/v/constructing-a-box-and-whisker-plot

9) Using your answers to question 8, construct a box and whisker plot.

10) Here is a link to provide instruction on frequency tables and dot plots.

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/probability/data-distributions-a1/displays-of-distributions/v/frequency-tables-and-dot-plots

11) Create a frequency table and a dot plot showing the frequency of paper airplane flights at a given distance.

12) Check this link out to learn how to construct an awesome histogram!

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/probability/data-distributions-a1/displays-of-distributions/v/histograms-intro

13) Create a histogram showing the frequency of flights at different distances. (Use buckets that are in 5 ft sections.)

Wow, that was a lot of information. . . great job for making it this far. Take a deep breath, and give yourself a pat on the back. Now, we are going to interpret these graphs, and bring all of this work you did to life. 

Questions:

1) What is the average flight distance for the entire class?

2) What was the maximum flight distance?

3) According to the graphs you created, describe the shape of distribution. Is the data symmetrical, skewed left, or skewed right, and why?

4) How many paper airplanes traveled over 10 feet? How many traveled less than 10 feet?

5) Which graph shows the flight distances the best? Explain

In groups of five, you will create a 5-10 minute multimedia presentation that teaches the class about a specific type of graph, and how to read it effectively. 

You may choose the method of your preference from the following options:

1) PowerPoint

2) Video (captions optional)

3) Podcast

4) Hands on Lab Activity 

You will be graded mostly on the content. Make sure your presentation is accurate. Get creative with the format. If you have a different idea that you would like to try, just let me know so I can approve it. 

Congratulations, your class holds the record for the highest average distance traveled! That is most likely due to the fact that you are the first class to do this project. . . but I am excited to see how long your record will stay on top! 

" You are uniquely special. There has never been someone quite like you, and there never will be. Be yourself, make the most of every opportunity, and lift up the people around you."  

- Mr. Stephen