Science and Tech Trek Activity 8b:
Marketplace Math (Part Two)

Activity Objective: Girls practice basic survey skills.

Toward Leadership Outcomes:

Through this activity, girls will:

  • Gain practical life skills—Girls have increased confidence in their ability to succeed in math and science. (Discover)
  • Feel connected to their communities—Girls feel that they are part of a larger community and recognize the importance of building diverse, supportive, social networks for their personal and leadership development. (Connect)

Experience Overview:

  • 2 min. Introduction (Talking Points)
  • 30 min. Making Sense
  • 10 min. Connecting the Dots
  • 5-10 min. Reflection/Discussion

Supplies Needed:

  • Paper (or journals) and pens or pencils (enough for each girl)
  • Graph paper and colored pencils or markers (enough for each girl)
  • Tape (optional)
  • Large pad and marker (or chalkboard)

Prepare Ahead:

  • Read over the entire activity before meeting with girls.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

» Introduction (Talking Points) (2 minutes)

  • Say something like this: "Today we are going to tally up the findings or record the data from our survey."

» Making Sense (30 minutes)

  • Distribute graph paper and colored pencils or markers.
  • As a group, go through the following steps (writing the answers on the large pad):
    • Tally the information. Solicit results to the question or questions from girls. Encourage a girl or girls to lead this process and/or record results.
    • Discuss various ways to visually display the results in picture form (such as a "pie" or circle chart or graph)
  • Separate the girls into pairs and ask each pair to design its own chart or graph. Tell girls they have about seven or eight minutes for this activity.
  • Put charts and graphs on the wall (or on the table) and have girls review each other's work. (For example, what is your favorite pizza topping?)
  • Ask girls: "Now that we have the results from our survey, what kinds of things can we do with the data? If we had a business of our own, how could we apply the results?"

» Connecting the Dots (10 minutes)

  • Say something like this: "We can connect the dots between thinking about starting a business that provides a product or service to others and using our survey skills. Before our next club meeting, each girl should survey at least five people and ask each of them, 'What service or product do you think is missing from our school community? Or what product or service would make our school better?'"
  • Distribute paper and pens or pencils.
  • Ask girls to write the above survey questions on paper or in their journals.
  • Instruct girls to record the answers to their questions on paper or in their journals.

» Reflection/Discussion (10 minutes)

Ask girls:

  • "Now think of our community outside of school. What area or areas of our community could use some help? What kind of help do you think they could benefit from? Could we provide that service or product?"

ADD IT ON!
Encourage girls to ask their friends and family members what they think about improvements that could be made in their community. Ask girls to record their answers and to share them with the group.