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UV
Radiation
Subject Area
This activity
has been designed for Data Processing Concepts (BPC 3G) units
dealing with Spreadsheets and Graphs. It is part of Objective
IVApplication Software. Graphs or charts make spreadsheet
data and statistics easier to understand. They add pizzazz to
a students presentations and make statistical information
crystal clear. This activity could be presented as soon as students
have completed a simple spreadsheet exercise using Lotus 1-2-3,
Excel or any other spreadsheet program.
Learning
Outcomes
Teaching,
learning and evaluation will focus on the students ability
to:
- Prepare
graphs using spreadsheet data;
- Record
UV (ultraviolet) statistics on a spreadsheet;
- Enhance
the visual presentation using a variety of spreadsheet functions
such as line graphs, bar, stacked bar graphs, pie charts and
the
- inherent
features of the software package being used;
- Determine
the best type of graph for a particular presentation;
- Develop
a more informed attitude about possible effects of exposure
to UV radiation.
Classroom
Development
- Watch
the Weather Watch channel on cable television for specials relating
to UV information: UV readings, Avoiding UV rays, Types of UV
rays, Buying Sunglasses.
- Collect
UV data and related statistics for a period of time and in a
variety of locations such as major centres in Ontario, across
Canada, and from different countries. Related data could include
temperature, cloud cover, amount of sunshine, and latitude.
- Collect
data on the risk of UV radiation for this period of time. This
information is compiled and presented in many major daily newspapers
such at the Toronto Star. Data include a rating, a UV Index,
a Risk Level and Time to Sunburn.
- Work
in groups to collect, compile and enter data in the spreadsheet
program with which the students are familiar. Correlate information
under headings such as:
a) City and UV Rating;
b) Temperature and UV Rating;
c) Cloud Cover and UV Rating;
d) Latitude and UV Rating;
e) Date and UV Rating;
f) Air Pollution and UV Rating..
- Analyze
the statistics produced by these correlations.
- Present
the concepts: hypothesis, statistics, and graph
to class using the computer and/or the overhead projector.
Timing:
This activity should require three 75 min periods.
Resources
- The
Weather Channel, if it is available in your area.
- Weather
data from a major newspaper.
- Environment
Canada weather data is available on shortwave and also on an
Internet Gopher. This information should be available from Freenets
in Ottawa, Toronto, Halton Region, Niagara Region, the Thunder
Bay area, and other regions.
Evaluation
Evaluate
the graph using the following criteria:
- Correct
information on horizontal axis (2 marks);
- Correct
data on vertical axis (2 marks);
- Inclusion
of legend, format, titles, grid, scale, colour and data labels
(14 marks);
- Effective
use of graph type to develop students hypothesis and make
the data more understandable (2 marks).
Total: 20 Marks
Cross-disciplinary Links
Geography
students can aid in the collection and interpretation of weather
data. Students may wish to draw on their Geography background
or invite a Geography teacher to the Data Processing Classroom.
This link could help to develop a possible hypothesis relating
UV ratings and one or more variables.
Invite
a Math teacher, or a senior math student, to show the type of
information plotted on a simple graph and how statistics can demonstrate
relationships between variables.
Your science
department may have an ultraviolet meter which your students could
use to collect data first hand. The best meter available for school
use is the Bluewater BW-10 Ultraviolet monitor (with student-centred
activities), available from:
Vital Technologies Corp. 670 Hardwick Rd., Unit 4, Bolton, Ont.,
L7E 5R5, (905) 951-1219
Extensions
Most students
will present their spreadsheet and graph information for viewing
on one computer screen. Extensions of this could include:
- Linking
the students computer to the overhead projector for a
classroom presentation.
- Using
a graphic program to prepare more sophisticated graphs. This
step could be developed in the BPA 4G course.
- Using
a graphics program to prepare and present a slide show of hypotheses
and graphs prepared collectively by the entire class. This is
also a suitable project for BPA 4G.
- Using
a desktop publishing program to prepare a poster about UV radiation.
- Preparing
printed materials for a campaign to inform students of appropriate
precautions against the effects of UV radiation.
- Inviting
Math and Geography students to the computer classroom to see
how statistics can be presented effectively on the computer.
Student
Work Sheets
UV
Radiation: Day 1
- Collect
weather data as outlined by your teacher.
- Develop
a basic knowledge of spreadsheet and graph terminology.
- Be able
to produce a simple spreadsheet using your spreadsheet program.
- Your
objectives are to be able to do the following:
- Develop
a hypothesis relating UV data and one weather variable;
- Construct
a spreadsheet showing the UV rating in one column and the second
variable in another column;
- Sort
the spreadsheet by UV rating, and save the file;
- Construct
a graph based on teacher demonstration of how to create a graph
from a spreadsheet.
Topics
- UV ratings
- Creating
a UV spreadsheet
- Creating
a graph from a spreadsheet.
- Building
a repertoire of graph terms: row, column, label, value, line
graph, x-axis, data range
Strategies
- Discuss
UV ratings, their possible effects, and source of data collection
with the rest of the class.
- As a
class, build and create a spreadsheet relating UV ratings and
a definable geographical location (a city, town or county for
which UV
- data
is available) on a specific date.
- Create
a line graph from this spreadsheet data.
- Now,
in groups of 2 or 3 reproduce this spreadsheet and graph.
- Collect
data on UV ratings and weather on various areas as directed
by your teacher.
UV Radiation: Day 2
- In your
groups from the last class, develop a hypothesis relating UV
and one other variable based on the data you have collected.
- Prepare
a spreadsheet and simple graph. Save the graph. View it.
- Edit
the graph to include titles, legends, scaling, line format,
grid, scale, colour and data labels.
- Save,
view and/or print your graph.
UV Radiation:
Day 3
- Organize
statistics on using the different graphs available on your spreadsheet
program, and determine the most suitable graph for this information.
- Analyze
your graph for relationships.
- Summarize
your findings.
- Present
your findings to the class, teacher or to another class.
- Develop
a presentation using hypothesis, spreadsheet and graph.
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