ACT Science Lessons

Data interpretation

There would be illustrations/examples of graphs that include the following:

Positive correlation
Negative correlation

Direct variation
Inverse variation

Linear growth
Exponential growth
Logarithmic growth
S-shaped growth
Exponential decay
No correlation

Linear scale
Logarithmic scale

Independent variable
Dependent variable

Line graphs
Bar graphs
Dual-axis graphs
Weird graphs

Different forms of tables (need to expand this)

Students would be given a single graph or table from a scientific study and be pushed to
tell its story. What is being measured? What relationships do you see? Do you see any
exceptions to dominant trends? Do you see anything else that’s interesting? The types
of questions to ask can be further informed by our tags.

The goals would be twofold:

1. Expose students to different kinds of statistical correlations and to difficult or
unfamiliar data displays. They don’t necessarily need to identify “exponential
decay”, but it’s helpful to be exposed to different things.
2. Practice getting the “main idea” of an experiment from the graphs and tables.
Non-verbal reading comprehension. The text is a supplement.
Figure 1: Impacts of Genetically Modified crop adoption (easy)

Figure 2: Pesticide diversity found in pollen samples, varied by crop (medium)

Figure 3: Impacts of Genetically Modified crop adoption by modified trait (hard):