Lesson 1

First Names

Est. Class Sessions: 3

Extensions

  • Explore the number of letters in full names. (This variable must be defined by the group.) The distribution of Number of Letters (L) for full names will be shifted to the right on the graph and will be more spread out than the first names distribution, allowing some interesting comparisons.
  • The class might change the definition of name length. For example, they could count the number of syllables or the number of vowels instead of the number of letters.
  • The class can collect additional first names from, for example, another third-grade class. They can add these names to those already collected, or they could treat them separately.

The following question explores what might happen if geographic location or culture were changed:

X
  • The Tikki Tikki Tembo story gives one interpretation of why Chinese names are shorter than names in other cultures. How might the graph be different for a third-grade class in China? Draw the new graph.
Student Guide:
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