What’s Average?

Numbers can be informative – or misleading. Learn how to make sense of groups of numbers and other types of data. You’ll discover a new meaning for mean – and more -- through these un-average activities.

CONNECT:

• What is data? How many kinds of data are there? See examples at https://www.mathsisfun.com/data/data.html
• What are statistics? And why are they useful? Watch the answers at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_GBJhu65asTedEd
• Map is a map more than a map? When it shows data that you can compare with similar maps: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/08/07/upshot/music-fandom-maps.html
• What are some some of the amazing statistics about your world? See them – and maybe your future  -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGGYIw_pIj8

CREATE:

• Become an M&M data expert doing these activities: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-statistical-candy/ (NOTE: You can’t have your data and eat it too)
• How often do you see snake eyes? Learn about probabilities by playing with dice: https://www.education.com/activity/article/probability-dice-game/
• Play these data handling games at https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/data-handling
• Use data to improve your baseball performance: https://www.education.com/activity/article/pitch_and_hit_data_second/

CARE:

• You can help the environment through data: see examples at http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/DataandScience/index.html
• Save the day with data at https://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/kids-lab-oos-afterschool-operation-data-saves-day/operation-data-saves-the-day-activity-plan-pbs-kids-afterschool-adventure/
• Here’s another way to look at the spread of poverty and wealth: by visualizing the data: https://www.gapminder.org/dollar-street/matrix
• Some people lie with statistical graphs. Learn how to not get fooled by them at https://www.frontporchmath.com/topics/probability-statistics/graphs/misleading-graphs/

CAREERS:

There’s a large number of careers that deal with data and statistics: scientist, engineer, economist, marketer, poll taker, reporter, code-breaker.  You can count on a high probability of finding a good job in this area.

https://www.cnbc.com/2014/05/30/why-your-kids-will-want-to-be-data-scientists.html

https://www.ma.utexas.edu/users/mks/statund/careers.html

https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/careers-for-numbers-people/

https://www.careers.govt.nz/resources/tools-and-activities/maths-statistics/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/metabrown/2017/08/28/20-data-analytics-careers-that-arent-data-scientists/#75054c455771

The White House

The White House is the U.S. President’s residence, and the center of lots of activity over the years. Time to get the inside scoop.

CONNECT:

• See the inside of the White House from top to bottom architecturally at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BW6hxlThB_o
• Check out the history of the White House at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT5ZsE-o6U4
• Dolly Madison played a significant role in history of the White House; find out the details at https://www.biography.com/people/dolley-madison-9394952
• What’s the Executive Branch, and what does it do? Find out at https://www.congressforkids.net/Executivebranch_index.htm

CREATE:

• Make a trivia game using these fun facts about the White House: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/fun-facts-know-about-white-house-residents/
• Ever wanted to play President for the day? Or for four years? Experience it at https://www.icivics.org/games/executive-command
• Recreate the White House Easter Egg hunt from now or yester year: https://www.whitehousehistory.org/questions/what-is-the-history-of-the-white-house-easter-egg-roll https://www.whitehouse.gov/eastereggroll/
• Create your own pop-up White House by following these directions: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/craft-pop-white-house/

CARE:

• Have something to say to the President? Make your voice known at https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
• Learn how you can become a White House intern; it’s never too early to find out how to participate in this leadership program: https://www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/internships/
• The White House supports students’ interest in STEM through its Maker Faire and other efforts; join the movement at https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/node/316486
• Did you know that the cost of preserving and maintaining the historic furnishings and art within the White House Collection isn't covered entirely by public money or by a federally-funded agency? Support the White House History Organization at https://www.whitehousehistory.org/support

CAREERS:

There are hundreds of people who work for the White House: from security to cleaning, from economic advisors to decorators. Of course, there are political jobs – and all of their support staff, as well as thousands of government jobs from Peace Corps to janitors and military to forest rangers. In a way, if you work for the government, you are working for yourself. See some of the opportunities here.

https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/career-resource-center/government-careers/

https://career.berkeley.edu/Government/Government

https://www.usajobs.gov/