Mean, median and box plots: 6th grade math
Statistical questions; distributions; centre (mean, median) and spread (range, IQR, MAD); dot plots, histograms, box plots. A free 6th grade lesson plan, a question set with answers and a printable sheet with its key. Copy it and make it yours.
Lesson plan
Goal
- Students can do this: statistical questions; distributions; centre (mean, median) and spread (range, IQR, MAD); dot plots, histograms, box plots.
Teach (10 min)
- A statistical question expects different answers from different people or times.
- "How many pets does each student have?" varies. "How many days are in October?" has one answer.
- Work one example on the board while students say each step aloud, then do one together.
Practise (15 min)
- Students work the printable sheet in pairs, then alone.
- Or practise it as a game with no sign-up: https://peabody.kids/math/stats.question?lesson=6-stats-question-1&at=6
Exit ticket (5 min)
- Three questions on a slip:
- 1. Which of these is a statistical question?
- 2. Which of these is a statistical question?
- 3. Is this a statistical question? How tall are the students in a 6th grade class?
Question set
10 questions that read in words, easiest first. Questions that need a picture are on the printable sheet below.
- Which of these is a statistical question?
- Which of these is a statistical question?
- Is this a statistical question? How tall are the students in a 6th grade class?
- Which of these is a statistical question?
- Is this a statistical question? What is the temperature outside right now?
- Is this a statistical question? How many books do the students at our school read in a month?
- Which of these is NOT a statistical question?
- Is this a statistical question? How many books do the students at our school read in a month?
- Which of these is NOT a statistical question?
- Which of these is NOT a statistical question?
Answers
- How many brothers and sisters do the students in our grade have?
- How much rain falls each day in our town in a month?
- Yes, it is a statistical question
- How many books do the students at our school read in a month?
- No, it is not a statistical question
- Yes, it is a statistical question
- What time does school start?
- Yes, it is a statistical question
- How many days are in October?
- What is the capital of Colorado?
Printable sheet
Name: ____________________ Date: ____________
Mean, median and box plots (6th grade)
- Which of these is a statistical question?
- Which of these is a statistical question?
- Is this a statistical question? How many players from one soccer team are on the field?
- Which of these is a statistical question?
- Which of these is NOT a statistical question?
- Which of these is a statistical question?
- Which of these is NOT a statistical question?
- Which of these is NOT a statistical question?
- Which of these is a statistical question?
- Which of these is a statistical question?
- Is this a statistical question? How many hours do kids in our town sleep on school nights?
- Is this a statistical question? How old are the dogs at the park?
Key
- How tall are the students in a 6th grade class?
- How long does it take each student in a class to get to school?
- No, it is not a statistical question
- How tall are the students in a 6th grade class?
- What is the capital of Colorado?
- How many points does a team score in each of its games?
- What is the capital of Colorado?
- How many days are in October?
- How many pets does each student in our class have?
- How many hours do kids in our town sleep on school nights?
- Yes, it is a statistical question
- Yes, it is a statistical question
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