Contextualization

Key Theoretical Concepts

Mathematics has the magical ability to transform abstract quantities and measurements into visual and tangible entities. For 8th-grade students, one of the most interesting concepts in this transition from abstraction to visualization is the concept of graphs. As visual tools, graphs help understand complex sets of data and statistics through shapes and images.

Graphs can be classified in various ways, such as line graphs, bar graphs, pie charts, histograms, scatter plots, and many others. Each type of graph has its own advantages and is best suited for a certain set of data or situation.

For example, a line graph can be used to show trends over time, a bar graph can be used to compare different groups or categories, and a pie chart can be used to show proportions. On the other hand, histograms are useful when dealing with continuous data, while scatter plots are ideal for showing the relationship between two variables.

Relevance and Real-World Applications

We live in an information age where we are bombarded daily with a multitude of data. From the evolution graphs of COVID-19 on the news, to a company's sales reports, to the performance statistics of a soccer player, graphs are an essential part of our daily lives.

However, for these graphs to be truly effective, it is necessary that they are well-designed and suitable for the type of data we want to represent. Poorly made or inappropriate graphs can confuse more than explain, and in many cases can even lead to erroneous data interpretations. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to learn how to choose and adapt the correct graphs for each situation.

Atividade Prática

Activity Title: "Unveiling Graphs"

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to enhance your skills in selecting and adapting the correct graph to represent different sets of data. In groups of 3 to 5 students, you will study the types of graphs, research real-world data, choose the most suitable type of graph, and present your conclusions.

Detailed Project Description

The project is divided into three phases: research, execution, and presentation. Each of these phases will address different skills and concepts.

1. Research: In this phase, you should research and study the different types of graphs, their characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. Your study materials and the recommended sources above are excellent starting points.

2. Execution: Now that you have a better understanding of graphs, it's time to get to work. You should choose a topic of interest and research data on that topic. It can be anything! Data on the number of goals of your favorite soccer team, the population growth of your city, disease incidence, etc. The only condition is that the chosen data set allows the construction of at least four different types of graphs.

3. Presentation: Each group will present their graphs to the class and explain why they chose that specific type of graph to represent their data. The presentation should be clear and convincing, demonstrating that you truly understand the characteristics and advantages of each type of graph.

Required Materials

• Computer with internet access for data research.
• Tools for creating graphs (can be spreadsheet software like Excel, Google Sheets, or some free online tool for creating graphs).

Detailed Step-by-Step for Activity Completion

1. Form groups of 3 to 5 students and distribute responsibilities among members.
2. Based on the recommended study materials, research the different types of graphs and note their characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages.
3. Choose a topic of interest and research data on that topic.
4. Based on the collected data, decide which types of graphs are most suitable.
5. Using the chosen tools, create the graphs.
6. Prepare a presentation explaining the choice and suitability of the graphs.

Project Delivery

The project delivery will be in two parts: the presentation of the graphs and a written report.

The presentation should be approximately 15 minutes, where each group will explain the chosen theme, the researched data, and which graphs they created to represent this data, explaining why they believe these graphs are the most suitable.

The written report should contain the following topics:

1. Introduction: Here, explain the chosen theme and why it is relevant. Also present the project's objective.
2. Development: In this part, detail the process that led to the creation of the graphs. Discussion of graph theory, the methodology used in data research, arguments for the choice of each type of graph, and presentation of the results obtained.
3. Conclusion: Summarize the work, pointing out what was learned, impressions, difficulties encountered, and how they were overcome. It is also important to make a self-assessment of the group's performance, highlighting aspects of collaboration and time management.
4. Bibliography: Present all sources consulted during the project.

At the end of this project, it is expected that you have gained a better understanding of graphs and how they can be used to represent and interpret data. It is also expected that your collaboration, time management, presentation, and writing skills have been improved.