Statistical Sleuths

Margaret Wegienka

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Statistical Sleuths

Identify statistical questions

In this lesson, students will explore the concept of statistical questions and learn to formulate and identify them. Through engaging activities, they will differentiate between statistical and non-statistical questions. This lesson is important as it builds foundational skills in statistical thinking, which are crucial for data analysis and interpretation in various real-world contexts.

Audience

6th Grade Students

Time

45 mins

Approach

Identify statistical questions

Materials

Whiteboard and markers, Printed worksheet, and Printed discussion questions

Step 1

Introduction

5 mins

Begin with a brief discussion on what statistics are and why they are important.
Ask students if they have ever used statistics in their daily lives.

Step 2

Exploration Activity

15 mins

Distribute the worksheet with examples of questions.
In pairs, have students categorize each question as statistical or non-statistical.
Encourage students to discuss their reasoning with their partner.

Step 3

Class Discussion

10 mins

Bring the class together and discuss the answers from the worksheet.
Use the discussion questions to guide the conversation and clarify any misconceptions.

Step 4

Formulating Questions

10 mins

Ask students to come up with their own examples of statistical and non-statistical questions.
Share a few examples with the class and discuss why they fit into each category.

Step 5

Closure

5 mins

Recap the key points of the lesson.
Ask students to reflect on how they can use statistical questions in their everyday lives.

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Discussion

Statistical Questions Discussion

A discussion to help students understand the difference between statistical and non-statistical questions.

What makes a question statistical?

Guide students to understand that statistical questions anticipate variability in the data and require data collection.

Can you think of a real-life example of a statistical question?

Encourage students to think about questions that involve data collection, like surveys or experiments.

Worksheet

Statistical Questions Worksheet

A worksheet to help students practice identifying statistical and non-statistical questions.

Is 'How many hours do students in our class spend on homework each week?' a statistical question? Why or why not?

Consider if the question anticipates variability in the data.

Is 'What is the capital of France?' a statistical question? Why or why not?

Think about whether the question requires data collection or if it has a fixed answer.