0910+Pasta+Mining

=Pasta Mining=

We started class with a discussion of renewable and non-renewable resources:
Renewable Resources - Wind, Sunshine, etc.

Non-Renewable Resources - Coal, Oil, Natural Gas

Students predicted that a graph of production from a non-renewable resource mine (ie. a coal mine or oil well) would show a decrease in output over time.
===In order to both understand the consumption of non-renewable resources and gather data for graphing lessons, students were asked to mine for pasta. Students were then broken into 4 groups. Each group was responsible for mining a different kind of pasta. 16 pounds of pasta was then dumped on the floor: 4 pounds of each kind. Each student was given 60 seconds to extract as much of their kind of pasta as they could from the mine.=== Pasta Mining Rules:
 * 1) Each student will get 60 seconds during their turn to gather as much of their kind of pasta as possible.
 * 2) Any pieces of pasta that differ from the kind that is supposed to be mined will be subtracted from the total at the end of each 60 second round.
 * 3) Students cannot use any aids like cups or bowls to help. They can only use what is in their possession normally in the classroom.
 * 4) At the end of a 60 second round, students must carry back whatever pasta they have in their possession and nothing more. If they made a pile of pasta on the ground in front of them, but it is not in their possession at the end of the round, they may not bring it back to be counted.
 * 5) Since this is a study of non-renewable resources, pasta is __not__ returned to the mine at the end of each round.
 * 6) For this activity, there were six 60 second rounds.


 * Data

The chart below shows the data collected during the activity. **

===Students were then asked to create a line graph to show the change in the amount of pasta collected each round. Line graphs were used because they are best at showing change over time. Students first created graphs by hand individually on graph paper. Then we used [|Create A Graph] to make graphs for this wiki.=== Group A - Shells:

Group B - Macaroni:

Group C - Ziti:

Group D - Spirals: