Mathematics Grade 6
Educational Links

Strand: STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY (6.SP)

Develop understanding of statistical variability of data (Standards 6.SP.1-3). Summarize and describe distributions (Standards 6.SP.4-5).

Standard 6.SP.3

Recognize that a measure of center for a numerical data set summarizes all of its values with a single number, while a measure of variation describes how its values vary with a single number.

• Box Plots
  By completing this lesson students will understand the concept of median, quartiles, and how to build a box plot.
• Chapter 4 - Mathematical Foundations (UMSMP)
  This is Chapter 4 of the Utah Middle School Math: Grade 6 textbook. It provides a Mathematical Foundation for Fluency.
• Chapter 4 - Student Workbook (UMSMP)
  This is Chapter 4 of the Utah Middle School Math: Grade 6 student workbook. It covers the following topics: Statistics.
• Data Organization and Representation: Weather Forecasting
  In this lesson's video students see how a meteorologist organizes weather data for a presentation on-air. Students are then given sets of recent weather data which they must analyze to find the center and variability. They then predict the next day's temperature based on those statistics. NOTE: You have to create a Free PBS Account to view this web page, but it is easy to do and worth the effort.
• Examining California's Prison System: Real-World Ratio
  Using an infographic students look at such factors as age, gender and race to examine how the prison population in California compares to the general population. Students then apply an understanding of how they can find the value of a part by using a whole and a percent in order to look at how that can lead to recommendations for how to prevent crime. NOTE: You have to create a Free PBS Account to view this web page, but it is easy to do and worth the effort.
• Grade 6 Math Module 6: Statistics (EngageNY)
  In this module, students move from simply representing data into analysis of data. Students begin to think and reason statistically, first by recognizing a statistical question as one that can be answered by collecting data. Students learn that the data collected to answer a statistical question has a distribution that is often summarized in terms of center, variability, and shape.
• Grade 6 Unit 6: Statistics (Georgia Standards)
  In this unit students will: Analyze data from many different sources such as organized lists, box-plots, bar graphs, histograms and dot plots. Understand that responses to statistical questions may vary. Understand that data can be described by a single number. Determine quantitative measures of center (median and/or mean). Determine quantitative measures of variability (interquartile range and range).
• How Long Is a Minute?
  This activity is designed to give students an understanding of arithmetic mean, median, and range of data sets. They practice using a virtual stopwatch in the interactive to estimate how long a minute is. They collect the data from repeat guesses and use that in the activity. NOTE: You have to create a Free PBS Account to view this web page, but it is easy to do and worth the effort.
• Is It Center or Is It Variability?
  The purpose of this task is to challenge students to think about whether they should be most interested in the center of the data distribution or in the spread of a data distribution in order to answer a given statistical question.
• IXL Game: Statistics
  This game is designed to help sixth graders understand how to calculate mean, median, mode, and range.
• Line Plot Representation of Deviation from the Mean
  The concepts of means and deviations are the focus of this interactive from Annenberg. Students manipulate dots on a line graph to experiments with deviation. The classroom activity helps them understand positive and negative deviation. NOTE: You have to create a Free PBS Account to view this web page, but it is easy to do and worth the effort.
• Measuring Variability Through Tracking Wildfires
  Data about wildfires in the U.S. is the basis of this lesson. Students examine the data about active fires as well as historical data and use that data to find changes across decades. NOTE: You have to create a Free PBS Account to view this web page, but it is easy to do and worth the effort.
• Prison Population: Real World Statistical Variability
  Statistical data about changes in state and national prison populations from 1925 is the focus of this lesson. Students examine the data to make observations, find patterns and calculate the median and range. NOTE: You have to create a Free PBS Account to view this web page, but it is easy to do and worth the effort.
• Spinner
  By manipulating a spinner and its pointer students will learn about probability in this activity.
• Statistics and Probability (6.SP) - 6th Grade Core Guide
  The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and educators around the state of Utah developed these guides for Mathematics Grade 6 - Statistics and Probability.
• The Median: Salary.com
  By looking at the data on the website Salary.com students will understand the application of quartiles and percentiles to understand and compare salaries. In the activity students use data set about salaries to create box plots and look at pay differentials. NOTE: You have to create a Free PBS Account to view this web page, but it is easy to do and worth the effort.
• Variation About the Mean: The Boston Harbor Project
  The use and statistical analysis of data in the efforts to improve the water quality in Boston Harbor is the subject of this video. Students then apply an understanding of mean absolute deviation to examine data. They also use data about bacteria found in a river in an analysis of what that data set tells. NOTE: You have to create a Free PBS Account to view this web page, but it is easy to do and worth the effort.

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http://www.uen.org - in partnership with Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).  Send questions or comments to USBE Specialist - Lindsey  Henderson and see the Mathematics - Secondary website. For general questions about Utah's Core Standards contact the Director - Jennifer  Throndsen.

These materials have been produced by and for the teachers of the State of Utah. Copies of these materials may be freely reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit should be given to Utah State Board of Education. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of the Utah State Board of Education, 250 East 500 South, PO Box 144200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200.