Skip to content

Unit 2, Section 1: Compare-a-Chutes

Section 1: Compare-a-Chutes

Overarching Themes

This section shifts students from describing a single distribution to comparing two, through the lens of Engineers testing parachute designs. By moving through every phase of The Data Cycle, students discover that variability is unavoidable: two parachutes built from identical materials and dimensions still produce different descent times, and the same parachute rarely lands at exactly the same time twice. A central focus is placed on careful, standardized data collection (the “Rules of the Drop”) so that differences between distributions can be traced to the design change rather than uncontrolled factors. Students then weigh the evidence using stacked boxplots in CODAP, along with measures of center (mean and median) and spread (MAD and range). Ultimately, the curriculum emphasizes that a verdict is only as strong as its evidence: a difference between two groups is meaningful only when it is large compared to the natural variability within each group.

Daily Overview

Lesson Title Vocabulary Lesson Activities GAISE Level B Guidelines
Lesson 1:
Compair-a-Chutes		 n/a
  • Teacher Test Flight: Analyzing 20 descent times for Parachute P1 on a CODAP dot plot
  • Rules of the Drop: Standardizing data collection with Pilot, Data Clerk, Timer, and Quality Inspector roles
  • Twin Chutes: Comparing stacked dot plots of two identical parachutes (P1 vs. P2)
  • B.II.6: Interrogating how data were measured and collected
  • B.IV.5: Recognizing variability within and between groups of data collected in similar ways
Lesson 2:
Construct-a-Chute		 n/a
  • Engineering the Prototype: Building a parachute with an assigned canopy modification
  • Precision Drops: Collecting 20 standardized descent times per group
  • B.II.3: Using data to make comparisons between groups
  • B.II.6: Interrogating how data were measured to reduce uncontrolled factors
Lesson 3:
Compare-a-Chutes		 stacked box plot
  • CODAP Showdown: Building stacked box plots of Parachute P1 vs. each group’s modified parachute
  • Numerical Summaries: Recording mean, median, MAD, and range to draft a Lead Engineer report
  • B.III.1: Representing variability of quantitative variables with appropriate displays
  • B.III.2: Identifying center and variability to compare distributions
Lesson 4:
The Board Meeting		 n/a
  • Technical Briefs: Groups present stacked box plots and summaries as Lead Engineers
  • Agree or Disagree: Evaluating peer evidence to decide if differences are meaningful or random variation
  • B.IV.1: Using statistical evidence to answer investigative questions
  • B.IV.5: Recognizing limitations and variability when drawing conclusions
Progress Check 1:
Can You Weigh the Evidence?
  • Investigative Task 1: Rules of the Throw
  • Investigative Task 2: Reading the Evidence
  • Investigative Task 3: Numerical Summaries
  • Investigative Task 4: Meaningful Difference?
  • Investigative Task 5: The Verdict
  • B.II.6, B.III.2, B.IV.1, B.IV.5: Comprehensive mastery of comparing groups from data collection through interpretation