LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Numerical data

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L369

A lesson plan for Grades 3–5 Mathematics

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

About this resource

Appropriate grades
3–5
Subjects
mathematics (probability, statistics)
Provider
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

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In this lesson students pose and refine questions that can be addressed with numerical data; consider aspects of data collection such as how to obtain measurements and record the data they collect; represent, then analyze the ordered numerical data by describing the shape and important features of a set of data; and compare related data sets, with an emphasis on how the data are distributed. Illuminations provides detailed instructions for completing the activity. After students participate in an activity that compares their heights, they learn to find the median of a data set. Then, in the lesson, students gather, represent, and analyze numerical data about student heights, which are measured in different units. Finally, students participate in an extension activity that uses data from the US census.

NCTM Standards and Expectations:

  • Collect data using observations, surveys, and experiments.
  • Design investigations to address a question and consider how data-collection methods affect the nature of the data set.
  • Represent data using tables and graphs such as line plots, bar graphs, and line graphs.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use data and simple probability concepts.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including circle graphs and tables) to solve problems.

Grade 4

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use graphs, probability, and data analysis.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including line graphs and bar graphs) to solve problems.
    • Objective 4.02: Describe the distribution of data using median, range and mode.
    • Objective 4.03: Solve problems by comparing two sets of related data.
    • Objective 4.04: Design experiments and list all possible outcomes and probabilities for an event.

Grade 5

  • Goal 4: Data Analysis and Probability - The learner will understand and use graphs and data analysis.
    • Objective 4.01: Collect, organize, analyze, and display data (including stem-and-leaf plots) to solve problems.
    • Objective 4.02: Compare and contrast different representations of the same data; discuss the effectiveness of each representation.