Humans come in a variety of colors. There is a great variety of colors of hair. The color of hair can be altered or left natural. Eyes also come in a variety of colors. Eye color usually remains the same through life, but some people have eye colors that change (especially grey to green).

Colors of Humans can be an activity lesson or it can become the basis of a class project, or a unit on identifying physical characteristics. For the class which lacks the diversity assumed for Classify Classmates, any other physical characteristics can be substituted, or the colors of the clothes they are wearing can be substituted in the spreadsheet.

The Colors of Humans lesson creates a two dimensional table in a spreadsheet to compile the results of a survey of the class. As a class project, one computer and one compilation can be made, and the results printed and displayed in the class (or print outs given to each student in the class).

In the event your class lacks diversity in hair color, you could use the variable of very curly, curly/wavey, or straight instead of hair color. If there is no diversity in eye color, use the color of the clothes/shirt/dress the child is wearing. This does not have as much impact as with a color diverse group, but it will give the children experience with spreadsheets.

The spreadsheet template includes an automatized color graph of the results. If colors must be changed, change the name of the color both in the data section and in the graph section. Additional colors will need the help of someone expert in excel to add the value to the bar chart.

Materials and supplies:

• ColorHumans.xls spreadsheet available to the computer in the class and all students computers in a lab.
• LESSON:ColorHumans.html lesson directions for the teacher.

Paper

Computer and Printer

Day Before Lesson:

• ColorHumans.xls Download and install on the class computer or all student computers in a lab.
• Check available paper and ink to print results.

Lesson:

• Follow procedure on Lesson ColorHumans

Follow up:

• Discuss the data both on the screen and on the print outs.

Lesson Plan

Objective:

Learn to enter data into spreadsheet template. Experience with graphs and analyzing scientific data.

Materials:

• Directions: http://www.educationalsynthesis.org/science/Biology/BIO-ColorHumans.html.
• Spreadsheet. http://www.educationalsynthesis.org/science/Biology/excel/ColorHumans.xls.

Pre-Lesson Procedure:

• Install the spreadsheet Template on each student's computer. <Click on File, click on Save As, specify path> Remember path!

Procedure:  

• Demonstrate how to click on the file name and click to the proper worksheet in the spreadsheet.
• Demonstrate how to enter name, and how to enter data ....
• Send students to computers
• Help as needed as students bring up the Colors of Humans Spreadsheet.
• Have all students click on the Hair Color at bottom of page.
• Have all students type their names at the top of the Worksheet
• Tell students to enter a 0 <zero> in each data cell.
• Ask students to note what happens to the graphs below the data when they change the values to zero.
• Ask all students with a given color of hair stand, all girls sit down. Count those standing.
• Announce the number to type in the cell... let kids do it. Point out the changes in the bar charts below
• Ask all students with the given color of hair stand, all boys sit down. Count those standing.
• Announce the number ... let kids type the number into their Spreadsheet. Point out the changes in the bar charts below.
• Repeat with each color of hair and each gender.
• Let students identify the totals. Count the boys and girls in the class and make sure the totals match the spreadsheet.
• Discuss the bar charts at the bottom.
• Direct students to click on the Eye Color worksheet and enter their names.
• Tell students to enter a 0 <zero> in each data cell.
• Ask students to note what happens to the graphs below the data when they change the values to zero.
• Ask all students with a given color of eyes stand, all girls sit down. Count those standing.
• Announce the number to type in the cell... let kids do it. Point out the changes in the bar charts below
• Ask all students with the given color of eyes stand, all boys sit down. Count those standing.
• Announce the number to type in the cell... let kids do it. Point out the changes in the bar charts below.
• Repeat with each color of eyes and each genderr.
• Let students identify the totals. Count the boys and girls in the class and make sure the totals match the spreadsheet.
• Discuss the bar charts at the bottom.
• Have students save the spreadsheet.
• Students click back on Hair Color Tab. Print the worksheet.
• Students click on Eye Color Tab. Print the worksheet.
• Display the worksheets on bulletin board or in the hall if desired, or save in folder for future discussions.

For Your Information:

A few follow-ups using the printed spreadsheets and graphs for classroom discussions will improve learning.

Extension:

Laminate the kids' print outs Use in activities to compare data in numbers, and bar graphs.

Class Discussion Questions:

What color do we have the most of? Which gender has the greatest color count? Which color do we have the least of? Which gender has the least color count?

How did the bar charts and graphs change as you entered the data? Why did they change?