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Math lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 30 minutes

Recognise statistical questions

Statistics and probability

CCSS 6.SP.A.1England: KS3 Statistics

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Recognise statistical questions.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Line plots and tables

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Squared paper for charts, Class survey data, Sticky notes for a live chart, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Line plots and tables). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Sam measured some leaves (in inches) and made a line plot: 1/4: ×××, 2/4: ××, 3/4: ××××, 4/4: –. How many leaves were measured in total? → 9Prompt: Each × is one leaf.
  2. Maya measured some leaves (in inches) and made a line plot: 1/4: ××××××, 2/4: ××××, 3/4: ××××, 4/4: ×××××. How many leaves were measured in total? → 19Prompt: Each × is one leaf.
  3. Tariq measured some leaves (in inches) and made a line plot: 1/4: ×, 2/4: ×××××, 3/4: ××××, 4/4: ××××. How many leaves were measured in total? → 14Prompt: Each × is one leaf.

Hook · 3 min

  • Take a quick class survey (favorite fruit, travel to school) and ask what the results tell us.
  • Share the objective: Recognise statistical questions. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Is this a statistical question? “How many legs does a spider have?”
  • Step 1: There is one fixed answer, so it is not statistical.
  • Answer: No
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Is this a statistical question? “How many hours of sleep do students in my class get on school nights?” (Yes / No) → YesPrompt: A statistical question expects answers that vary.
  2. Which question is a statistical question? (What were the daily high temperatures in our town last month? / What time does the library open on Monday? / How many pages are in my maths textbook? / How many legs does a spider have?) → What were the daily high temperatures in our town last month?Prompt: Look for a question whose answers vary from person to person or day to day.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which question is a statistical question? (How many pages are in my maths textbook? / What time does the library open on Monday? / How many legs does a spider have? / How long do songs on the top-50 chart last?) → How long do songs on the top-50 chart last?Prompt: Look for a question whose answers vary from person to person or day to day.
  2. Is this a statistical question? “How many pages are in my maths textbook?” (Yes / No) → NoPrompt: A statistical question expects answers that vary.

Watch out for

  • Forgetting to put data in order before finding the median.
  • Reading a bar's height wrongly when the scale goes up in 2s or 5s.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Line plots and tables.
  • Use concrete materials: squared paper for charts.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-6.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Recognise statistical questions

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which question is a statistical question?

    • A. How long do songs on the top-50 chart last?
    • B. How tall is the school building?
    • C. How many legs does a spider have?
    • D. What time does the library open on Monday?

  2. Question 2

    Is this a statistical question? “What time does the library open on Monday?”

    • A. Yes
    • B. No

  3. Question 3

    Is this a statistical question? “How many legs does a spider have?”

    • A. Yes
    • B. No

  4. Question 4

    Is this a statistical question? “How long do songs on the top-50 chart last?”

    • A. Yes
    • B. No

  5. Question 5

    Is this a statistical question? “What were the daily high temperatures in our town last month?”

    • A. Yes
    • B. No

  6. Question 6

    Is this a statistical question? “How many minutes do Year 7 students spend on homework each day?”

    • A. Yes
    • B. No

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Answer key: Recognise statistical questions

  1. 1. A. How long do songs on the top-50 chart last?

  2. 2. B. No

  3. 3. B. No

  4. 4. A. Yes

  5. 5. A. Yes

  6. 6. A. Yes