El Niño Southern Oscillation: Data Literacy Cubes

Overview

This lesson plan provides some generic maps, graphs, and data tables for use with the Data Literacy Cube. Because it is a differentiated resource, this lesson plan is appropriate for multiple grade bands. 

Materials Required

• 1 Cube per group/student (or die)
• 1 differentiated Cube Question Sheet per student
• 1 sheet of paper per student
• Pencil
• El Niño Southern Oscillation: Maps, Graphs, and Data Images

Teacher Preparation:  

Print copies of the cube on cardstock and cut out.  Assemble the cube with glue. Note: consider laminating after you cut these out for multiple uses. (Gaming dice may be substituted for the cubes.) Also, print off copies of the differentiated Graph Cube Questions. Distribute to students for group or independent work.

Procedure

Steps:

1. Distribute your Earth science Map, Graph, or Dataset to the group or groups of students as well as one data cube from the Cube Template (or regular die).
2. Distribute the appropriate-leveled Questions Sheet to each group.
3. Assign each student a role from the Task Card for each group.
4. Students roll the cube and answer the matching question on the associated Question Sheet. 
5. Answer one question found under the matching question on a sheet of paper, labeling the question with the number and letter of the question.
6. Have each group share with another group or with the class after completing their question sheet.
7. Monitor student progress and assign new level sets as students reuse the cubes throughout the year.  
8. Repeat Steps 2-4 until at least 6 are answered.