Schottenbauer Publishing

Schottenbauer Publishing

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Upgrading Physical Education with Graphs

Physical education classes can easily be upgraded to "high-tech" status by incorporating graphs into lesson plans. As early as fourth grade, students are taught graph-reading skills in math and language classes. These technical skills can easily be applied to physical education topics. 

 Graphs relevant to physical education include:

  • Trajectories of Human Motion & Sports Equipment
    • Position
    • Velocity
    • Acceleration
  • Direct Measurement of Physical Variables
    • Force
    • Acceleration
    • Altitude
  • Biophysics Data
    • Joint Angles
    • Breathing
    • Heart Rate
    • Electrical Activity of Heart & Muscles

 How can these data be used in class? One example is found in the blog article Comparing Graphs of 24 Sports Balls Bouncing, Rolling, & Flying. This article describes how to use a set of three free YouTube videos from Schottenbauer Publishing along with a book of graphs, Bounce, Roll, & Fly: The Science of Balls: Sampler Edition, to compare the performance of 24 popular sports balls.


Discussion Questions
  1. How many times does the baseball bounce?
  2. From what height is the baseball dropped?
  3. Write one or more equations describing the motion of the ball.
  4. What is the potential energy of the baseball in the beginning? At the peak of each bounce? In the end of the graph?
  5. What is the maximum velocity of the ball? The maximum momentum?

Additional sample graphs and discussion questions pertaining to physical education are available on the following free blogs:


 Over 5,000 sports graphs are available in science lab manuals from Schottenbauer Publishing. Additional information is available on the blog Sport Science Education. Books can be purchased online from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and other internet retailers, and wholesale through CreateSpace.
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Friday, April 24, 2015

Using Graphs in Writing Projects

The first topics that come to mind when asked about the use of graphs in education are math and science. Perhaps surprisingly, graphs can also be used in language and writing classes, beginning in fourth grade. How can graphs be used in elementary, middle, or high school language classes? The following show several graphs, with examples of literary analyses of the graphs: 

 Sample Topic 1. A short written response.

 Sample Question: Describe the following graph in words. 

Sample Answer 1: This graph shows the force of hands hitting a drum. Sometimes there is low force (10 N), and sometimes there is high force (100 N). The low force causes a quiet sound, and the high force causes a loud sound. The loudness of sound is not shown in the graph.

Sample Answer 2: In this graph, a drummer hits a force plate with bare hands, similar to the surface of a drum. The impact has different level of force, ranging from 10 N to 100 N. The force probably is associated with different types of techniques used, although there is no data provided about technique. The force probably is also associated with dynamic volume and decibel level, although there is no data provided on these variables.
Sample Topic 2. Comparison and contrast.

 Sample Question: Compare and contrast the following two graphs.

Sample Answer 1: These graphs shows the sound pressure associated with singing the syllable "ah." The top graph shows a sample two seconds long, and the bottom graph shows a sample 0.03 seconds long. These differences are relevant because the first graph shows a "big picture," and the second graph shows a "close-up." The first graph also shows a sound sample centered on 0, varying approximately 0.1 upwards and downwards on the graph. The second graph shows a sound sample which is not centered; rather, it varies from 0.07 to -0.11 on the graph.

 Sample Answer 2: The singer's performance was analyzed twice, producing these two samples. The first graph shows a longer sample than the second. In a long sample, it is impossible to see the actual sound wave, because it is blurred together. In the second sample, the wave is clearly shown, but it is very short.
Sample Topic 3. Research project.

 Sample Question: Write a 10-page paper about music.

 Sample Answer 1 [Process]: The student decides to write a paper about sound waves, and searches through the multi-volume graph books Where Does Sound Come From? and How Do You Play That Thingamabob? The Science of Music Performance, selecting several graphs. The student also searches an encyclopedia and the internet for information about sound waves, sound generation, and microphones. The paper begins with an explanation about the function of sound waves in music, and then provides approximately one graph per paragraph as an example within the paper. Each graph provides a different example of a sound wave. Some examples contrast high and low, loud or soft, and long or short pitches; other examples compare woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion.  The final result is a 10-page paper plus appendices. Because the project is educational and not for publication, the student makes photocopies of 10 graphs, and attaches these in an appendix to the paper. 


 Teachers can energize students by allowing them to focus on exciting topics of interest to them. Schottenbauer Publishing features over 8,000 graphs, collected into multi-volume series and anthologies in the following categories:

 Book Series with Original Graphs

Anthologies of 28 Graphs
  • The World in a Graph
  • Sports [Multiple Volumes Available]
  • Transportation
  • Construction
  • Music
  • Play

 A full listing of graph topics from Schottenbauer Publishing, indexed by book series and data type, are available in a Teacher Resource Guide from the publisher. Free blogs with graphs, discussion questions, and videos are also available from the publisher online.


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Friday, April 10, 2015

The Use of Graphs in Open-Ended Projects

Traditional classes offer students focused instruction in the use of graphs, including identifying a specific topic area, providing questions which guide graph-reading and analysis, and teaching techniques for identifying equations. Graphs can also be used for open-ended projects, which provide students with more opportunity for choosing their own topics, collecting their own graphs, and synthesizing their own answers in writing. These open-ended projects can be designed for almost any traditional elementary, high school, or college/university class, including math, science, language arts, physical education, music, and art.

 Graph book series from Schottenbauer Publishing provide ample opportunities for open-ended projects using graphs. These include multi-volume book series on specific topic areas, as well as anthologies of 28 graphs excerpted from these offerings.
The following are three examples of open-ended projects using graphs: 

 Example 1

Students in class might be asked to select 2 or 3 volumes of graphs on a topic of their choice, and write a 10-page paper based on a subset of graphs in the books. Students may have a few weeks in which to complete the project, which should include citations from encyclopedias and traditional reference books to support their hypotheses and conclusions. 

 Example 2

During an entrance exam to a private school, students might be asked to use two hours to peruse an anthology of 28 graphs, and write a short essay describing a set of conclusions based on some or all of the graphs in the book. 

 Example 3

 A homeschooler might use an anthology of graphs as the basis for a project in which the student identifies equations for the different graphs, and then writes a paper comparing and contrasting mathematical functions across different situations encountered in the natural world.
Schottenbauer Publishing features over 8,000 graphs, collected into multi-volume series and anthologies in the following categories:


Book Series with Original Graphs

Anthologies of 28 Graphs
  • The World in a Graph
  • Sports [Multiple Volumes Available]
  • Transportation
  • Construction
  • Music
  • Play

Several sample graphs from Schottenbauer Publishing are shown below:




The graphs above demonstrate but a few of the types of data available in science lab manuals from Schottenbauer Publishing.  Examples include:
  • Physics
    • Video Analysis
    • Force
    • Acceleration
    • Rotational Motion
    • Power
    • Current
    • Voltage
    • Light Intensity
    • Magnetic Field Strength
    • Temperature
    • Sound
    • Sound Level
    • Air Pressure
    • Gas Pressure
    • Wind Speed
    • Water Flow Rate
  • Biophysics
    • Joint Angles
    • Electromyogram
    • Electrocardiogram
    • Blood Pressure
    • Pulse
    • Lung Capacity
    • Breathing Rate

 A full listing of graph topics from Schottenbauer Publishing, indexed by book series and data type, are available in a Teacher Resource Guide from the publisher. Additional information is also available on the blogs Science and Math Education and Sport Science Education. A list of free blogs with sample graphs, discussion questions, and videos is available in the article Application of Graphs in Education on the blog Graphs in Education.

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Thursday, April 9, 2015

Using Graphs for Class


Graphs are wonderfully flexible tools which can be used in almost any class, including math, science, language arts, physical education, music, and art.

The following list describes possible learning activities centered on graphs:
Possible Lesson Plans
  • Graph Reading 
    • Identifying Minimum & Maximum
    • Determining Graph Shape
    • Redrawing the Graph on a Different Scale
  • Mathematical Modeling 
    • Writing the Graph's Equation
    • Transforming the Graph's Equation
  • Theoretical Analysis
    • Describing the Scientific & Mathematical Concepts Related to Graph(s) 
    • Describing the Scientific & Mathematical Theories Related to Graph(s)
    • Identifying the Theoretically Ideal Graph & Comparing to Individual Graph(s)
    • Understanding Measurement Error & Other Types of Error
    • Comparing & Contrasting Specific Graphs
  • Science Writing
    • Describing a Graph in Words
    • Writing a Comparison & Contrast of Graphs
    • Describing Scientific Concepts & Theories Relevant to Graphs
    • Developing Theories Based on Graphs
    • Re-writing Graph Titles in Scientific Format
    • Practicing Different Styles of Writing about Graphs (e.g., Journalistic, Scientific, Practical/Colloquial)
  • Exploratory Research
    • Data-Mining 
    • Developing Theories Based on Graphs
    • Exploring Open-Ended Questions (e.g., Look at this book of graphs and write about a topic of interest.)
  • Estimation Skills
    • Understanding Range & Order of Magnitude
    • Developing Theoretical Comparisons from Commonly Available Data (e.g., Here is a graph of someone throwing a shot put. What would a graph look like if it were thrown by a child? By an Olympian in 1950? By an Olympian today?)

Schottenbauer Publishing features over 8,000 graphs, collected into multi-volume series and anthologies which fit into the following categories:
Book Series with Original Graphs
  • Sports
    • Athletic Training 
    • Exercise Equipment 
    • Yoga, Pilates, & Ballet 
    • Archery & Shooting Sports 
    • Ball Sports 
    • Hockey [Field, Street, Ice, & Air] 
    • Fencing 
    • Gymnastics 
    • Track & Field 
    • Ice Skating 
    • Snow Sports 
  • Music
    • Sound Waves 
    • Music Performance 
  • General Physics
    • Gravity, Springs, and Collisions 
    • Electricity and Magnetism

Anthologies of 28 Graphs
  • The World in a Graph
  • Sports
    • Summer Olympic Sports
    • Winter Olympic Sports
    • Physical Fitness
    • Ball Sports
    • Gymnastics
    • Track & Field
    • Figure Skating
    • Ice Hockey
    • Dance & Ballet
    • Yoga
  • Transportation
  • Construction
  • Music
  • Play

 A full listing of graph topics from Schottenbauer Publishing, indexed by book series and data type, are available in a Teacher Resource Guide from the publisher. Additional information is also available at ScienceandMathEducation.Blogspot.com and SportScienceEducation.Blogspot.com.


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Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Application of Graphs in Education

Graphs are useful tools for education. Relevant in almost any class in elementary or secondary school, graphs can be incorporated into math, science, language arts, physical education, art, and music. How can graphs be used to enhance traditional education, through examples and projects? This blog is dedicated to the use of graphs in class, as a stimulus for interdisciplinary learning in both mathematical/scientific and language arts.



Where Can I Find Graphs for Education?

Over 8,000 graphs are available from Schottenbauer Publishing, collected into exciting topics in sports, transportation, construction, environment, music, entertainment, and general physics. Multi-volume series within these areas contain graphs centered on various themes, while anthologies of 28 graphs provide a variety of mathematical functions related to specific topics. Educators in schools and homeschool, who lack time and/or budget for making extensive graphs, may find these useful reference tools for multiple projects across different classes. 

 Books are available from CreateSpace wholesale, as well as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and other internet retailers!

Schottenbauer Publishing also offers free blogs on specific topics, featuring graphs, discussion questions, and videos. Topics include:
Blogs with Free Graphs
  • Sport Science


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