Lesson Summary
This lesson builds on students’ understanding of weighted averages to explore the notion of quantifying and ranking countries’ happiness. Students use a spreadsheet program and Gapminder.org to engage with one another in the complex process of gathering and analyzing data to then communicate to the public. Though the lesson is aimed at late middle- or early high-school gifted students, educators in a variety of disciplines may find the context useful for adaptation in their classrooms.
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Lesson Content:
- Time: 4 hours
- Supplies: Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets
- Duke TIP Math Happiness Ranking Lesson Plan
- Duke TIP Math Happiness Ranking Rubric
- Gapminder.org information
- World Happiness Report 2017 video (2:33)
- Duke TIP Math Happiness Ranking Video: Using spreadsheets to define formulas and repeat calculations (3:23)
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