1. Exploring the Normal Distribution
Rick Luttrell
James Price
South Iredell High School

2. This will show how to use the following assignment, or one like it, to accomplish course aims and objectives while incorporating all eight of the Common Core Standards for Mathematical Practice:
Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
Model with mathematics.
Use appropriate tools strategically.
Attend to precision.
Look for and make use of structure.
Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

3. IB DP ATLs International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
International Pilot to develop content appropriate for high school students
Methodologies for teachers to use
Skills for students to develop

4. Thinking Skills In Support of Academic Disciplines
Critical Analysis
Targeted Synthesis
Awareness of Themselves as Learners
Metacognition
Transfer
Reflection

5. Communication Skills Using Images, Symbols, Equations, Words, etc.
To Formulate Thought Clearly
To Present Ideas Thoroughly
To Use Various Text Types Appropriately
To Argue Convincingly
To Reach the Intended Audience Directly
To Aid Spoken & Written Statements Routinely

6. Integrate Within Curriculum
The Mathematical Studies Course Aims & Objectives
being met through this activity are for students to:
enjoy mathematics and develop an appreciation of the elegance and power of mathematics
develop an understanding of the principles and nature of mathematics
communicate clearly and confidently in a variety of contexts
develop logical, critical and creative thinking, and patience and persistence in problem-solving
employ and refine their powers of abstraction and generalization
apply and transfer skills to alternative situations, to other areas of knowledge and to future developments
appreciate how developments in technology and mathematics have influenced each other

7. Student Investigative Procedure:
Students will formulate their own plans to individually collect data.
Students will have access to a variety of measuring tools and will take measurements following provided guidelines.
Student groups will review Internet materials on the use of the Normal Distribution and will draft a consensus about data meanings. (Information Literacy component)
They will chart their work and interpret and characterize their data.

8. Student Products tables of measurement data
charted data sets (as a visual depiction)
symbolic population descriptions via mathematical statements which follow conventions
oral presentation outline where students put language (including technical jargon) to complex mathematical processes in order to explain significant findings and supported conclusions (Literacy component)

9. Presentations & Interactions
Students will present their work to their classmates This requirement recognizes this is an area where students typically struggle and attempts to address this weakness.
Classmates will have an opportunity to respectfully comment and question each presenter’s work It is hoped that this sort of constructive dialogue will benefit all parties.
Students will have to operate at the highest levels of Bloom’s taxonomy to accomplish this task successfully.

10. Outcomes This exercise will be foundational to interpreting future continuous function data sets.
Students will be able to discuss and explain mathematical process appropriately with correct visual aids and terms.
Students will communicate clearly by themselves, in small groups, and in front of the entire class. Delivery will be both spoken and written, using both words and symbols.
Students will correctly collect, chart, and interpret measurement data using the Normal Distribution.
Students will hone their Internet research skills to find and extract useful, pertinent, and unbiased math information.
Students will be more aware of how thinking and communicating are important factors in mathematical work.

11. Samples of Student Work

15. Sample Height Measurement Data Table

16. Sample Data: Sorted into Intervals

17. Histogram of Sample Data

18. Sample Data: Histogram with Normal Distribution Overlay

19. Sample Data: Student Presentation

20. Sample Data: Group Interaction