British Number Ones

Why we like this activity....

Like it or not, its hard to avoid popular music! This database is bound to get everybody talking and provides an
excellent opportunity to test and practise statistical methods in an engaging context!

How this activity can be used....

Lots of choices here! The database is the real activity and in its broadest form the question is 'What makes a good
number one single?' Above are just a selction of activities you could run with this databse. Do them as they are or
bend them or add your own. take care to be sure if it is practise of making charts by hand or just interpreting you
want to do so that you can make the most appropriate use of technology to help you!

What to expect when using this activity, from our experience...

Lots of animated discussion. It is a challenge to chanel this discussion into focussed activity and imprtant to do so!

Extra notes

Author/Date, Jim Noble 06/10/09

Credits

British Number Ones
	Description/Aim
		A cracking database on the history of British Number One singles provides an excellent basis for a bit of investigation! Find in the database, the titles of songs, the names of the artists, the runtime of the songs, the number of weeks spent at number one! Use the activities below to help you investigate what has happened to popular music in the last 60 years! Time - up to 6 hrs Age - 15+
		Please find the database on the left that you will need for the activities below Data compiled, with great thanks, by Stephen Walker, and taken from http://www.onlineweb.com/theones/ Formatted by Jim Noble
		Making Hypotheses - Anyone who likes their music will want to look at this database and test out their theories on how popular music has changed. making hypotheses is the crucial place to start!
		How long is a song number one? - Are we in the age of one hit wonders? Did it used to be like that? Whats the longets a song has stayed at number one? These questions and more in this exercise
		Popular genre - What sort of songs make it to the top? Has that change dover the years? Use piecharts to look at this with this activity
		How long is a hit song? - Whats the secret formula? How long should it be? Look at how the length of songs has changed. Use grouped and cumulative frequency to answer these questions
	Teachers Notes - Why? How? What?
	Why we like this activity.... Like it or not, its hard to avoid popular music! This database is bound to get everybody talking and provides an excellent opportunity to test and practise statistical methods in an engaging context! How this activity can be used.... Lots of choices here! The database is the real activity and in its broadest form the question is 'What makes a good number one single?' Above are just a selction of activities you could run with this databse. Do them as they are or bend them or add your own. take care to be sure if it is practise of making charts by hand or just interpreting you want to do so that you can make the most appropriate use of technology to help you! What to expect when using this activity, from our experience... Lots of animated discussion. It is a challenge to chanel this discussion into focussed activity and imprtant to do so! Extra notes Author/Date, Jim Noble 06/10/09 Credits
	mathematics GCSE statistics music interpret analyse data handling
	www.thinkmathematics.com


	Great ideas and resources for teaching engaging mathematics lessons

Great ideas and resources for teaching engaging mathematics lessons

British Number Ones

mathematics GCSE statistics music interpret analyse data handling