A Mathematics and Language Arts WebQuest

Designed by

Jennifer Valerio
jvalerio7@comcast.net

  Introduction

After more than two decades at Veteran Stadium, the Philadelphia Eagles will pack their gym bags and move into a new home in fall 2003.  Unlike the Vet, which has been ranked among the worst places to play in the NFL, the new stadium will be state of the art.  As opening day approaches, however, Mayor Street is getting nervous.  How will the new stadium stack up against the NFL's top locales?  

  The Task

Before it's too late, the Mayor has asked you, his trusted advisors, to examine the NFL's best stadiums to make sure Philadelphia's new stadium compares favorably.  Groups of four will make a Power Point presentation to the City Council with a minimum of 4 slides that include the following information:

• A look at ratios of restrooms, gates, concession stands, and parking spots to visitors at the top NFL stadiums.
• A compilation of the best attributes of other NFL stadiums in terms of game visibility from all seats, stadium access via gates and ramps, and visually appealing architectural features.
• A list of accommodations necessary to make the stadium compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
• An analysis of ticket sale data and attendance figures for other top stadiums.

Each group member will be responsible for creating at least one Power Point slide.

  Process

Each student in your group should choose a different stadium from the Module 1 List. 

On your Module 1 Stadium Data Sheet, record the following information:  capacity, number of restrooms, number of concession stands, number of gates, and number of parking spots.

Using your Stadium Data Sheet, calculate the number of people per restroom, per stand, and per gate for your stadium.  Show all work. 

To calculate the number of people per parking spot, you may use a calculator.  

Add your findings to Module 1 Group Data Sheet.  All four group members should make the following calculations independently (please do this on the back of your Stadium Data Sheet):  

• Average capacity
• Average people per restroom
• Average people per concession stand 
• Average people per gate 
• Average people per parking spot. 

Compare answers with the other members of your group, making corrections as needed.  Discuss the following questions among your group:

• How many people can reasonably be expected to use one restroom, one concession stand, one gate, and one parking spot?
• Why is it important to have a relatively low number of people using each restroom, stand, gate or parking spot?
• What problems could arise if too few of these features are incorporated into a stadium plan?

One member of your group should create a PowerPoint slide that displays the group averages so that Mayor Street can determine whether the new stadium is better or worse than average.  Optional:  Include an additional slide listing reasons for keeping these numbers low, as your group discussed.  Slide designer will also present this slide to the City Council.

Each student in your group should choose 2 stadiums from the Module 2 List.  Although there will be some overlap, it is important that at each of the five stadiums listed is chosen by at least one person from your group.

Examine all available pictures of each stadium.  Look for an overhead or aerial view and a photo that shows the outside of the stadium.  Also, find a seating chart.  Some seating charts allow you to click on a section and get a view of the field from that section.  Try this for several sections, particularly those that seem to have a poor view of the field.  Look for the following features and take notes on your Module 2 Stadium Comparison Chart:

• Is the shape of the seating area sensible or will some seats have a poor view?
• If the stadium houses other sports (like baseball) are temporary seats added during football season?
• Are seats within a reasonable distance of the entry/exit gates or will a lot of walking be necessary?
• Is the stadium visually appealing from the outside?
• What features of the stadium make it more attractive in appearance?
• Are there any unattractive or distracting features?
• Are video screens and scoreboards placed well?

Using the notes on your Comparison Chart, write one paragraph (at least five sentences) comparing and contrasting the two stadiums that you chose.  Use the questions above to help you think of features to compare and contrast.

With your group, discuss the positive and negative features of your stadiums.  Compile two lists for your group:  

• Positive features that enhance a stadium
• Negative features that are distracting, unattractive, or bothersome to fans 

One group member should create a slide including the group's lists, letting Mayor Street know what features to include in the new stadium and what features to avoid if possible.  This person will also be the slide presenter and should be prepared to explain the group's choices of positive and negative features clearly and concisely during the presentation.  You do not need to incorporate your explanations into the PowerPoint slide. 

Each student should read the Americans with Disabilities Act article describing stadium accessibility and then answer the following questions using the Module 3 ADA Worksheet:

• What were the problems with wheelchair accessible seating before the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) was passed?
• What rules did the Department of Justice establish to improve accessible seating in new stadiums created for the Olympics and Paralympics?
• What made Lee Page's experience at the Paralympic Games such a positive one?

Each student should choose 1 stadium from the Module 3 List and then research the following questions:

• Would Lee Page have a positive experience at your stadium?  Why or why not?
• What accommodations has your stadium made to comply with the ADA and to better serve disabled fans?

Record your answers on the Module 3 ADA Worksheet.

With your group, share your list of accommodations and compile a group list.  Decide whether additional accommodations are necessary in order to meet the guidelines established by the Department of Justice.  

Next, your group should rank the accommodations in order of importance, so that Mayor Street can prioritize any changes that need to be made to the new stadium.

One group member (who has not already done so) should create a slide containing the group list.  He or she should be prepared to explain why each accommodation is necessary, perhaps using Lee Page's experiences as an example.

For this module, your group will need to make some decisions before assigning tasks to individual students.  You will be researching the ticket sales and attendance figures for four NFL team stadiums and then using that information to predict ticket sales and attendance at the new Eagles stadium.

Before you can begin, however, your group must decide which four teams to research.  Choose four teams for your group from the Module 4 List.  Note that four NFL teams were not included in the Module 4 List, because ticket prices were not available for these teams.   

Each student should use the Ballparks website to find answers to the questions below.  To navigate through the site, select "Present NFC or AFC" in the top left corner, and then look for your stadium on the list.  NOTE:  The Ballparks link will open as a new window.  To get back to this page you must close the Ballparks page by clicking the X in the upper right corner.  Answers should be entered on the Module 4 Graph Worksheet.

• On the graph paper provided, make a  bar graph showing the attendance history for your stadium from 1995 - 2000.  
• Has attendance risen, fallen, or been fairly consistent?  You may wish to visit the NFL web site to see whether the team's record impacted ticket sales.
• Find the mean ticket price (under the "Seating" heading) and then find the total attendance for the same year (usually 1998).  Round the ticket price to the nearest dollar and then calculate the approximate income from tickets for that year by multiplying rounded ticket price X total attendance.

As a group, compare your graphs.  Are there any common trends?  On the Module 4 Group Worksheet , make a line graph for each of the 4 stadiums showing attendance from 1995-2000, using a different color for each stadium.  One member of your group who has not yet made a slide should scan this group graph and use it in a PowerPoint slide.

Appoint a "recorder" to fill in the second half of the Group Worksheet.  Each student in the group should read their mean ticket price, total attendance, and yearly income for their stadium out loud, taking care to read the numbers correctly. The recorder should write down the numbers as they are read.

When everyone has finished, check to make sure that the numbers have been recorded correctly.  The examples below might help:

Example:  745,653

Example:  $34.15

As a group, decide how this data would be best displayed on a PowerPoint slide.  Will you use a graph or a table?  Create a graph or table on paper and scan it or create one on the computer.  Make sure the slide designer/presenter for this slide  can properly read all of the numbers on the slide as described above.

What predictions can your group make about future attendance and ticket sales at the new Eagles' stadium?  Can you back up your predictions with the data that you have collected on the other four stadiums?

  Evaluation

You will be evaluated both as an individual and as a group for this project.  Tasks labeled with an I will receive an individual grade, and tasks labeled with a G will receive a group grade.  Each objective is also color coded according to module.

Points:	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
(Module 1 Stadium Data Sheet) The student will correctly set up and solve three division problems involving 1- and 2-digit divisors. I	For each problem: The divisor and dividend are in the correct location.	For each problem: The problem is completed with 2  mathematical errors.	For each problem: The problem is completed with 1  mathematical error.	For each problem: The problem is completed with no mathematical errors.	Prob. 1: Prob. 2: Prob. 3:   Total:
(Module 1 Group Data Sheet - work found on back of Stadium Data Sheet)  The student will correctly calculate five averages. I	For each problem: Four numbers are added and the result is divided by four.	For each problem: The addition and division are completed with 2 mathematical errors.	For each problem: The addition and division are completed with 1 mathematical error.	For each problem: The addition and division are completed with no mathematical errors.	Prob. 1: Prob. 2: Prob. 3: Prob. 4: Prob. 5: Total:
Points:	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
(Module 2 Comparison Paragraph) The student will compare and contrast two stadiums. I	The paragraph includes at least five  sentences related to stadium features.	The paragraph includes at least five grammatically correct sentences with accurate spelling.	The paragraph includes at least five sentences that are organized, clear, and accurate.	The paragraph includes details and uses precise, descriptive  language.
Points:	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
(Module 3 ADA  Worksheet) The student will use information from an on-line article and from a stadium website to answer five questions. I	For each question: Each question is answered in a full sentence containing  one supporting example.	For each question: Each question is answered in a grammatically correct sentence containing  two supporting examples.	For each question: Each answer is organized, clear, and accurate, and contains more than two supporting examples.	For each question: Each answer includes details and uses precise, descriptive language.  More than two supporting examples are given.	Question 1: Question 2: Question 3: Question 4: Question. 5: Total:
Points:	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
(Module 4 Graph  Worksheet) The student will create  an attendance history graph. I	Four of the six bars in the bar graph are accurate.	Five of the six bars in the bar graph are accurate.	The graph is 100% accurate.	The graph is 100% accurate.  Bars are shaded and neat.
(Module 4 Graph  Worksheet) The student will multiply a six-digit number by a two digit number to  calculate the approximate income for a stadium for one year. I	The problem is set up correctly in that the rounded mean ticket price is multiplied by the total attendance.	The problem is set up correctly and is completed with 2 mathematical errors.	The problem is  set up correctly and is answered with 1 mathematical error.	The problem is set up correctly and is completed with no mathematical errors.
Points:	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
(PowerPoint Presentation Module 1 Slide)  The group will include all five group averages in an effective  slide. G	All five averages are included, though not all are accurate or not all are  appropriately labeled.	All five averages are  accurate.  Labels are used.	All five averages are  accurate and labeled.  Slide has a heading.	All five averages are accurate and labeled. Slide has an appropriate heading, is easy to understand and is well-organized.
Points:	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
(PowerPoint Presentation Module 2 Slide)  The group will include two lists   (positive and negative stadium features) in an effective  slide and will explain list choices. G	Both required lists  are included.  Presenter reads lists.	Required lists are included and are clearly labeled.   Presenter reads lists and answers questions  related to lists.	Required lists are included and labeled.  Slide has a heading.  Presenter explains list choices.	Required lists are included and labeled. Slide has an appropriate heading, is easy to understand and is well-organized. Presenter explains list choices clearly and concisely.
Points:	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
(PowerPoint Presentation Module 3 Slide) The group will include a ranked list of ADA accommo- dations  in an effective  slide and will explain why each is necessary. G	The required list is included.  Presenter reads list.	The list is ranked and clearly labeled.  Presenter reads list and answers questions related to the list.	The list is ranked, thorough, and clearly labeled.  Slide has a heading.  Presenter explains the necessity of each item in list.	The list is ranked, thorough, and clearly labeled.  Slide has an appropriate heading, is easy to understand and is well-organized.  Presenter explains each list inclusion clearly and concisely.
Points:	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
(PowerPoint Presentation Module 4 Slide) The group will display a group graph as well as attendance, ticket price, and annual income data in an effective slide and will correctly read all numbers. G	All required elements are included.  Numbers are read with assistance from the teacher or classmates.	The group graph is accurate and labeled.  Other required data are included and labeled.  Numbers are read with 2 or fewer errors.	The group graph is accurate and labeled.  Other required data are displayed in an organized fashion and are explained.  Numbers are read with no more than 1 error. An attempt is made to predict attendance for the Eagles' new stadium.	The group graph is accurate and labeled.  Other required data are displayed in an easily understood, well-organized format.  Numbers are read correctly.  Predictions for the Eagles' new stadium are logical and backed up by mathematical fact.

  Conclusion

Your hard work has paid off.  The City Council was impressed with your thorough research into the various characteristics of a good NFL stadium.  They are reassured that Philadelphia's new stadium will indeed measure up to others in the league.  

In his gratitude for your services, Mayor Street has invited you to attend the Eagles' season opener.  Curious as to what you will find at the new stadium?  Visit the Eagles' stadium website to check out plans for the new facility.  Does it meet your expectations now that you are indeed a stadium expert?

Perhaps another city will seek your expert advice on a new stadium.  If you were planning another NFL stadium, what choices would you make about the design, seating layout, and access?

  Credits & References