Mathematical Topics: Students will analyze scientific data demonstrating a periodic cycle, interpret a graph of the data, and estimate the cycle’s period.

Mathematical Thinking: Students will analyze data in tabular and graphical form, determine a pattern, and use the pattern to predict future peaks and lows in the cycle. Students will also use critical thinking skills to conjecture other phenomenon that might behave periodically and that could also be related to the sunspot cycle.

Technology: The students will learn how to import data from the internet (if access is available) and create a connected scatterplot with the chart wizard.

The following graph illustrates the cyclic pattern of sunspot activity.