US Department of Commerce
Sample Means - Exploring Sampling Variability
Sample an excellent resource on sampling variability. Pupils analyze census data on the percentage of homes in each state that have Internet access. They take random samples of different sample sizes, determine the sample means, and then...
US Department of Commerce
How Are Single-Parent Households Distributed Across the United States?
There sure are a lot of single-parent households in the country. After selecting one of four US regions to investigate, pupils create dot plots and box plots on the percentage of single-parent households with male parents and female...
US Department of Commerce
Diversity: Languages Spoken in the United States
High schoolers begin a discussion on diversity and determine the percent of the population that speak another language at home in the US. Classmates make a prediction of the percentage of people that speak another language at home in...
US Department of Commerce
Does the Percentage of People Who Walk to Work in Cities Vary with Population Size?
To walk or not to walk? Pupils create box plots comparing the percentage of residents who walk to work in large, medium, and small cities. Using the box plots, class members compare the data that reflects available statistics. Scholars...
US Department of Commerce
Commuting to Work: Box Plots, Central Tendency, Outliers
Biking may be an outlier. Using data from 10 states on the number of people reporting they bike to work, pupils calculate the measures of center. Scholars determine the range and interquartile range and find which provides a better...
US Department of Commerce
Census in Counties - Describing and Comparing Histograms to Understand American Life
Use graphs to interpret life in 136 counties. Pupils analyze histograms and describe the shapes of the distributions of data collected from several counties on different aspects of life. Scholars make predictions on the difference in...
US Department of Commerce
Looking at Numbers of Births Using a Line Graph
Was there a baby boom? Using census data, class members take a look at the number of 8-11 year olds and determine their birth years. Scholars create a double line graph to compare the number of births for two states for several years....
US Department of Commerce
Applying Correlation Coefficients - Educational Attainment and Unemployment
Correlate education with unemployment rates. Individuals compare state and regional unemployment rates with education levels by calculating the correlation coefficient and analyzing scatter plots. Pupils begin by looking at regional data...
US Department of Commerce
Make Data Speak
Data displays are more than just a bunch of numbers. Small groups access census results and create eye-catching data displays. Teams choose a statistic and collect data points for five locations. Classmates present their infographics to...
Radford University
Exploring Types of Variation Activity
Create a variable list of problems. Groups come up with four scenarios. Each situation represents different types of variation, direct, inverse, joint, and combined. Teams then generate questions about their contextual problems for...
Radford University
Statistical Study
Put your knowledge of sample surveys to good use. Pupils begin by conducting a survey of class members. They identify an appropriate topic and sampling technique; collect and organize their data; compute and analyze statistical measures;...
Radford University
PHamily PHeud: An Exploration in Surveys
Get to know the class much better. Scholars brainstorm a topic of interest and then design and conduct a class survey. Using the top responses, they create a game similar to Family Feud and take part in a class competition.
Radford University
Analyzing Data from Peer Survey
We all want to know what we're thinking. Scholars analyze and report data collected in a previous survey on peer attitudes toward current events. They calculate the mean, median, range, and standard deviation before creating histograms...
Radford University
Peer Survey on Current Events
Stay up to date on current events as well as how the class views the issues. A performance task has scholars select a current event of interest and design a class survey on the topic. They conduct the survey, analyze, and report the...
Radford University
The Next Big Thing
Make sure the next product is a hit. An engaging task has scholars design an item to sell at a sports event and then conduct a marketing survey. They decide whether to use random sampling, stratified sampling, or cluster sampling, and...
Radford University
Survey Activity
It's time to take a survey. After looking at an example of a survey on lunch preferences, groups design their own surveys. They consider the sample size and sampling technique, then conduct the surveys. As a final activity, they create...
Radford University
Data Analysis Activity
What do classmates think? In groups, learners design surveys to investigate chosen topics. They conduct the survey, then analyze the results. As part of the activity, they must calculate the mean, median, mode, variance, and standard...
Radford University
Connecting Theoretical and Experimental Probability
Play some games, develop a law, and then call it a day. Learners first perform a small number of trials for a probability experiment, then predict the result for a larger number of trials. They then compile data from the entire class to...
Radford University
AFDA Probability and Law of Large Numbers
The more trials scholars perform, the closer they'll likely be to the true value. After designing a probability experiment, young mathematicians conduct the experiment for five different numbers of trials. They then analyze the results,...
Radford University
Modeling Statistical Data
Can people predict the number of future divorces? Scholars research and analyze data on the number of divorces and teenage pregnancies in Virginia over time. They use the data to create graphs, determine the best-fit equations, and make...
Radford University
Shuffle or Nano?
Mix up your teaching playlist with a performance-based assessment task. Given iPod sales data for several years, scholars create a scatter plot and perform regression analysis. They determine the best fit curve for different domains.
Radford University
Is Fall Normal?
Fine the normality of fall measurements. Pairs collect measurements of fall leaves and one other fall object. Using the measurements, the groups determine the descriptive statistics for the object and using the Empirical Rule, figure out...
Radford University
Is it Really a Small World After All?
Working in groups, learners research four countries' populations over the past 30 years. Using the data collected, the teams find regression equations that best fit the data. Taking the regression equations, they then make predictions...
Radford University
Pizza, Pizza!
Ponder the problem of pizza prices. Pupils use provided information about two different pricing schedules for pizza. They create tables of values and functions to represent the pricing schemes, consider domain restrictions, and identify...