Not Enough Hours in the Day? Daylight Data Collection

Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Subject Area

Digital Literacy and Computer Science
Mathematics
Science

Grade(s)

1

Overview

Students and teacher collaboratively collect and organize data on the length of days throughout the year and analyze patterns that they see. Students and teacher will create a digital spreadsheet and a connected chart in order to reflect and make observations while analyzing the data represented in chart format.

This activity was created as a result of the DLCS COS Resource Development Summit.

Phase

Before/Engage
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 1

DLCS18.1.R5

Locate and curate information from digital sources to answer research questions.

UP:DLCS18.1.R5

Vocabulary

  • video
  • text
  • image
  • webpage
  • ebook

Knowledge

Students know:
  • search engines help to locate information.
  • computers give access to many different forms of information.
  • devices can record pictures, drawings, videos, and text.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • choose and type or say key words and phrases into a search engine which results in specific information pertaining to a topic when given support and guidance from an adult.
  • find information about a specific topic or to answer a specific question using a digital resource such as a webpage, ebook, and/or video when given support and guidance from an adult.
  • record their learning into a digital device using video, text, and/or pictures/drawings when given support and guidance from an adult.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • a search engine will find specific resources and information using key words.
  • answers to questions can be found in many different digital resources such as a webpages, ebooks, and/or video.
  • they can show what they have learned using a digital resource such as video, text, and or pictures/drawings.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 1

DLCS18.1.1

Classify and sort information into logical order with and without a computer.

UP:DLCS18.1.1

Vocabulary

  • attribute

Knowledge

Students know:
  • how to identify attributes of items.
  • that attributes are used for sorting.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • identify various attributes of items.
  • sort items based on an identified attribute.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • items can have attributes of varying types.
  • attributes can be used to group items.
  • attributes can be used to sort items and put into a specific order.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 1

DLCS18.1.14

Discuss the purpose of collecting and organizing data.

UP:DLCS18.1.14

Vocabulary

  • data
  • collection
  • information
  • graph

Knowledge

Students know:
  • data can be collected to give information.
  • data can be organized in various ways.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • determine appropriate situations to collect data.
  • determine a way to organize data they collect.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • data collection gives information.
  • the method chosen for organizing data is important.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 1

DLCS18.1.15

Interpret data displayed in a chart.

UP:DLCS18.1.15

Knowledge

Students know:
  • how to look at simple graphs and interpret them collaboratively and indepently.
  • information can be depicted in various ways such as numbers, pictures, blocks.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • answer questions based on information shown in a graph or chart.
  • determine certain results based on information in a graph or chart.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • we gain information by collecting data and depicting that data in a chart or graph.
  • we can look at charts and graphs and discover information.
SC15.1.9
MA19.1.16

Learning Objectives

Students will locate and curate information about daylight hours.

Students will discuss the purpose of collecting and organizing data about daylight hours.

Students will interpret organize and interpret data displayed in a chart about daylight hours.

Students will draw the connection between the time of daylight to the season.

Students will infer the reason behind the change in seasons.

Activity Details

This activity is a great "Before" activity to make light of the relationship between sunlight and seasons.

Students use https://www.timeanddate.com/ to fill out the graphic organizer on the length of daylight hours. Students fill out their reflections and connections on the same sheet.

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.

Assessment Strategies

The graphic organizer, Daylight Hours

Teacher observation during the building of the datasheet.

Teacher observation during the building of the chart.

Teacher observation during reflections and questions.

Variation Tips

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.

Background / 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.

 

DAYLIGHT HOURS

Research the information at https://www.timeanddate.com/ and fill in the chart below.

 

 Year: _____________________

Month

Duration of Daylight

Observations

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?

timeanddate.com
https://www.timeanddate.com/

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

mbounds
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