EngageNY
Measuring Variability for Skewed Distributions (Interquartile Range)
Should the standard deviation be used for all distributions? Pupils know that the median is a better description of the center for skewed distributions; therefore, they will need a variability measure about the median for those...
Shodor Education Foundation
Measures
Take a look at data from a statistical lens. An interactive allows pupils to enter data set, labeling the data including the units used. Manipulating the applet, learners select the statistics to calculate that include total, mean,...
EngageNY
Measuring Variability for Symmetrical Distributions
How do we measure the deviation of data points from the mean? An enriching activity walks your class through the steps to calculate the standard deviation. Guiding questions connect the steps to the context, so the process is not about...
EngageNY
Describing Center, Variability, and Shape of a Data Distribution from a Graphical Representation
What is the typical length of a yellow perch? Pupils analyze a histogram of lengths for a sample of yellow perch from the Great Lakes. They determine which measures of center and variability are best to use based upon the shape of the...
Mathematics Assessment Project
Mean, Median, Mode, and Range
What a find! Here is a instructional activity, designed to meet sixth grade math Common Core standards, that focuses on the calculation of different measures of center for the scores from a penalty shoot-out competition. An independent...
EngageNY
The Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD)
Is there a way to measure variability? The ninth resource in a series of 22 introduces mean absolute deviation, a measure of variability. Pupils learn how to determine the measure based upon its name, then they use the mean absolute...
Curated OER
Introduction to Measurement
Student observes and measures the variability in the length of the forearm and the length of the foot and to test a common belief that the length of the foot is equal to the length of the forearm.
Curated OER
Making Informed Decisions Using Measures of Central Tendency
Students calculate the mean, median, mode, range, and interquartile range for a set of data. They create a box and whisker plot using paper and pencil and technology and determine which measure of central tendency is the most helpful in...
Curated OER
Introduction to Measures of Central Tendency and Variability
Learners calculate the mean, median, mode, range, and interquartile range for a set of data. They create a box and whisker plot using paper, pencil and technology.
Statistics Education Web
Did I Trap the Median?
One of the key questions in statistics is whether the results are good enough. Use an activity to help pupils understand the importance of sample size and the effect it has on variability. Groups collect their own sample data and compare...
American Statistical Association
Armspans
Young mathematicians collect data on the arm spans of classmates. Then they sort the data by measures of center, spread, and standard deviation. Finally, they compare groups, such as boys and girls, to interpret any differences.
EngageNY
Describing Variability Using the Interquartile Range (IQR)
The 13th instructional activity in a unit of 22 introduces the concept of the interquartile range (IQR). Class members learn to determine the interquartile range, interpret within the context of the data, and finish by finding the IQR...
Curated OER
Magnetic Storms
In this magnetic storms and Earth's magnetic field worksheet, students use a bar graph showing the Kp Index for planetary variability. Students use the bar graph to answer 3 questions about the solar storms and their Kp values.
EngageNY
Mid-Module Assessment Task - Algebra 1 (module 2)
A mid-module assessment uses two multi-part questions to measure progress toward mastery on descriptive statistics standards. Each part of a question addresses a single standard to help determine mastery.
Noyce Foundation
Ducklings
The class gets their mean and median all in a row with an assessment task that uses a population of ducklings to work with data displays and measures of central tendency. Pupils create a frequency chart and calculate the mean and median....
EngageNY
Comparing Distributions
Data distributions can be compared in terms of center, variability, and shape. Two exploratory challenges present data in two different displays to compare. The displays of histograms and box plots require different comparisons based...
EngageNY
Summarizing Deviations from the Mean
Through a series of problems, learners determine the variability of a data set by looking at the deviations from the mean. Estimating means of larger data sets presented in histograms and providing a way to calculate an estimate round...
Mathed Up!
Stem and Leaf Diagrams
Order the data within a stem-and-leaf display. Pupils take data and create and ordered stem-and-leaf diagrams, including the key. Participants take their data and determine answers about the information. Class members then find measures...
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...
Curated OER
Mean and Standard Deviation
Get two activities with one lesson. The first lesson, is appropriate for grades 6-12 and takes about 20 minutes. It introduces the concept of measures of central tendency, primarily the mean, and discusses its uses as well as its...
Curated OER
Time Travel
Students view a video clip on time travel. They work together to complete a worksheet on measuring time. They discuss the different perceptions of time.
EngageNY
Interpreting the Standard Deviation
Does standard deviation work for non-symmetrical distributions, and what does it mean? Through the use of examples, high schoolers determine the standard deviation of a variety of distributions and interpret its meaning. Problems require...
Curated OER
Statistical Process Control
In this statistical process control activity, students solve and complete 15 various types of problems. First, they estimate the standard deviation of the given process. Then, students use the target value as a center line and draw a...
Curated OER
Practice Problems: Correlation and Linear Regression
In this correlation and linear regression activity, students examine data to determine the statistic mean. They compute the percent of the variability. This three-page activity contains 16 problems. Answers provided.