Run, Skip, Walk Data

Project #1368 on iSENSEProject.org

                                                  Run, Skip, Walk

I have done this "Run, Walk, Skip" activity for the past 6 years.  The kids love it!  They are asked to run, skip, or walk (so all can participate) a distance of 20 meters and be timed doing it.  Gather a few stopwatches (I just take the median time), measure a distance of 20 meters, and time each student individually.  I make a table with all students names already typed in to save time.  Then add 4 more columns: one for distance (all are 20 m), time (s), method (run, skip, walk), and speed (m/s).  All students bring their sheets out to record times.  Usually the kids get creative and ask to cartwheel the 20 meters, and inevitably they want to race, if time allows.

This activity takes  two days to complete: one to discuss objectives and gather data outside.  Day two is used to graph and analyze data in the classroom.

1.) Using the histogram, are the results what you expected? Explain.

2.) Using the bar graph, compare the average time to move 20m of each method (run, walk, skip)?  (Hint: Use the "Group By" option to help.)

3.) Using the scatter plot, calculate each students' speed (m/s) during the activity. Fill in your table.

     a.) If you could connect a line from the origin to each students' data point on the scatter plot, which students' line would be the steepest? Why?

     b.) Which students' line would be the least steep? Why?

4.) Choose one runner, one walker, and one skipper.  How could we get them to cross the finish line at the same time?  

     a.) Which graph would best help us to determine that?

     b.) Who would start first?  Why?  

     c.) When should the other two students begin?