Just like everyone, Norbert and Zot need to exercise to keep their bodies healthy. Challenge your children to create an exercise regime for Norbert and Zot on a treadmill so their average heart rate is 100 beats per minute (click the Exercise button at the left). Then they can watch the simulated workout of Norbert and Zot! By working in reverse and determining the numbers needed to make a particular average, your children will gain a valuable perspective on the meaning of average. Your children will also become involved in estimating averages; analyzing the relation between a bar graph of numbers and their average; and taking, plotting, and analyzing data on their own heart rates as they exercise. Be sure to return to this page for extensions once your children are familiar with the activity.

Be sure Squeak is installed successfully on your computer. It may take up to 60 seconds for the project to load for a fast connection. It could take up to 20 minutes for a slow modem connection so you may want to download with a faster connection first and transfer it to run it locally on the computer(s) you use. Check the tips for how to save and run a project locally. Wait until you see an orange flap at the lower left labeled Navigation. Click the flap to open and close it and access some neat tools. You need to click Escape Browser so you will have more space. Click Browser Reentry to get back your Browser controls. Click on the button at the left to try the activity so you will be better prepared to help your children.

Your children should be able to get good data on their heart rate. They should have fun plotting the data using the Squeak HeartRate project (on the left) and analyzing and discussing their data. We would like to see examples of your child's data and plots so we can post them for others to see. They can save their HeartRate projects with their data and plot using the publish button on the navigator flap. Go to the NASA CONNECT web site and have your children submit their data and plots.

As parents you should guide your children in the activity, but don't take away their learning opportunity and do it for them. You may want to try the activity yourself first so you will be better prepared to help. Involve other children and have them work cooperatively (follow the link for advice) if you can. Also this activity employes many research-based strategies. Check them out for valuable tips and downloads. Also check out the teacher information at the bottom of this page.

Activity Objectives:

1. Students will learn the meaning of average with an engaging and fun Squeak activity.
2. Students will practice estimating averages and check their results.
3. Students will compare the average to a bar graph of the numbers they average.
4. Students will take data on their heart rate as they exercise and plot the results with a unique Squeak tool.
5. Students will work together cooperatively and discuss their results during the interactive activity.

Teacher Information Valuable for Parents

• Check the national standards for this activity.
• This activity is inquiry based. An effective approach is to: ENGAGE, EXPLORE, EXPLAIN, EXTEND, and EVALUATE.
• This activity employes many research-based strategies. Check them out for valuable tips.
• Involve other s and have them work cooperatively. Follow the link for advice.
• After your students are familiar with the Squeak project, have them try these extensions.
• Check these basic tips for help using Squeak.
• Here are several references where you can learn more about Squeak and where to get basic information sheets to give your children to guide them using Squeak.