Context

Data interpretation is an essential skill in various areas of life. We often come across information presented in tables, graphs, and percentages, whether in news about the economy, health, sports, among others. Understanding what these data represent allows us to have a more critical view of reality and make better decisions. Therefore, it is crucial that you learn to read and interpret this data.

Mathematics is strongly linked to data interpretation since many pieces of information are presented numerically. Additionally, it is important to highlight the strong connection with the Portuguese discipline, as understanding the texts that accompany the data is indispensable for its interpretation. Therefore, this interdisciplinary project will develop skills in both disciplines.

In this project, we will work on interpreting data from surveys presented in different forms: tables and various types of graphs. To do this, we will conduct research on a topic that interests all of us: the environment. Together, we will be able to better understand the current situation of our planet and how we are contributing to it.

Your participation will be crucial in conducting the research, collecting and analyzing the data obtained. It will be a valuable opportunity to learn how to deal with real data, develop teamwork skills, and manage time to complete all project stages.

To delve deeper into the topic and prepare for the project, I suggest the following resources:

1. Khan Academy - Graph Interpretation: Khan Academy - Graph Interpretation
2. Nova Escola - How to Interpret Graphs and Tables: Nova Escola - How to Interpret Graphs and Tables
3. Só Português - Text Interpretation: Só Português - Text Interpretation

Practical Activity: "Our Attitudes and the Environment: A Data-Driven Perspective"

Project Objective

Analyze and interpret data collected on the habits and opinions of the school's students regarding the environment, presenting the information obtained clearly and creatively.

Detailed Project Description

In groups of 3 to 5 students, you will create and conduct a survey to collect information on attitudes and behaviors related to the environment among the school's students. The goal is to understand how we are behaving regarding sustainability and caring for our planet.

The survey should include questions about:

1. Consumption behaviors: What products do students buy the most? Do they consider the environmental impact of these products?
2. Transportation: How do students commute to school? Is there the use of less polluting transportation?
3. Recycling: Do students separate waste at home? And at school?
4. Environmental awareness: What do students think about environmental issues?

Next, you will analyze and interpret this data, producing different types of graphs and tables to present your findings. To conclude, you will need to write a detailed report on the research and its findings.

Required Materials

• Computer with internet access
• Online questionnaire creation software (e.g., Google Forms)
• Chart creation software (e.g., Google Sheets or Excel)
• Writing materials (pencil, pen, paper, writing software)

Step-by-Step

1. Group formation and task division

2. Creation of the online questionnaire

3. Survey dissemination and application among the school's students

4. Data collection and organization

5. Data analysis and interpretation

6. Creation of graphs and tables to represent the data

7. Writing the report on the research and its findings

8. Presentation of the results to the class

The project is estimated to take more than twelve hours per participating student to complete.

Project Deliverables and Connection with Suggested Activities

At the end of the project, the groups must deliver:

1. The applied questionnaire.
2. The collected data.
3. The created graphs and tables.
4. The written report.

Students should write the report following the structure of Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography, as detailed in the project's introduction. In the Introduction, they should present the research topic and why it is relevant. In the Development, they should explain the research methodology, describe the collected data, and discuss the results with the help of the graphs and tables they created. In the Conclusion, they should summarize the main points and reflect on what they learned from the project. In the Bibliography, they should indicate the resources they used to learn how to interpret data, create graphs and tables, and write the report.

This project has direct connections with the suggested activities. The steps of creating and applying the survey, as well as data collection and analysis, are practical activities that involve the application of mathematical concepts in interpreting this data. The steps of writing the report and presenting the results involve Portuguese language skills, such as text interpretation and written text production.