Standard 1: Summarize, represent and interpret categorical and numerical data with one and two variables.

General Information
Number: MA.912.DP.1
Title: Summarize, represent and interpret categorical and numerical data with one and two variables.
Type: Standard
Subject: Mathematics (B.E.S.T.)
Grade: 912
Strand: Data Analysis and Probability

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks.

Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Access Points

MA.912.DP.1.AP.1a
Given a set of data, select an appropriate table or graph to represent categorical data and whether it is univariate or bivariate.
MA.912.DP.1.AP.1b
Given a set of data, select an appropriate table or graph to represent numerical data and whether it is univariate or bivariate.
MA.912.DP.1.AP.2
Given a univariate or bivariate data distribution (numerical or categorical), identify the different components and quantities in the display.
MA.912.DP.1.AP.3
Identify whether the data are explained by correlation or causation in the contexts of both numerical and categorical data.
MA.912.DP.1.AP.4
Given the mean or percentage and the margin of error from a sample survey, identify a population total.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.

Formative Assessments

Sleep and Reading:

Students are asked to interpret a correlation coefficient in context and describe a possible causal relationship.

Type: Formative Assessment

Listing All Possible Causal Relationships:

Students are asked to identify all possible causal relationships between two correlated variables.

Type: Formative Assessment

Does the Drug Cause Diabetes?:

Students are given a statement of association between two variables and are asked to determine if one variable is a cause of the other.

Type: Formative Assessment

Does Studying Pay?:

Students are given a scenario describing an association between two variables and are asked to determine if one variable is a cause of the other.

Type: Formative Assessment

Winning Seasons:

Students are asked to construct a histogram corresponding to a given set of data.

Type: Formative Assessment

Trees in the Park:

Students are asked to construct a box plot corresponding to a given set of data.

Type: Formative Assessment

Flowering Trees:

Students are asked to determine whether each of two given dot plots are consistent with a given histogram.

Type: Formative Assessment

A Tomato Garden:

Students are asked to construct a dot plot corresponding to a given set of data.

Type: Formative Assessment

Lesson Plans

A MEANingful Discussion about Central Tendency:

Using relatable scenarios, this lesson explores the mean and median of a data set and how an outlier affects each measure differently.

Type: Lesson Plan

Data Speaks Part 3:

Students will analyze a data set and create a data display that best represents the data, in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Data Speaks: Part 2:

Students will analyze and interpret data displays to explain the advantages and disadvantages of each data display, in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Choosing The Proper Chart For Your Data Set:

Students will use previously gathered data to create a spreadsheet, choose and create a graph/chart that best diplays the data, and explain their reasoning for choosing the graph/chart, in this lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Data Speaks: Part 1:

Students will classify variables as numerical/categorical and univariate/bivariate. Graphs representing various data related to citizenship will be used in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Spreading the Vote Part 1:

Students will explore voter turnout data for three gubernatorial general elections before and after the passage of the 19th Amendment. They will interpret the correlation of raw voter turnout vs. eligible population using a scatterplot, determine its direction by analyzing the slope and informally determine its strength by analyzing the residuals. Students will draw some conclusions and discuss what a correlation means and how it differs from causation in the context of elections in this integrated lesson.

Type: Lesson Plan

Spreading the Vote - Part 2:

Students will explore voter turnout data for three gubernatorial general elections before and after the passage of the 19th Amendment. They will interpret the correlation of eligible population vs. percentage of voter turnout using a scatterplot, determine its direction by analyzing the slope and informally determine its strength by analyzing the residuals. Students will draw some conclusions and discuss what a correlation means and how it differs from causation in the context of elections in this integrated lesson.

Type: Lesson Plan

Do Credit Cards Make You Gain Weight? What is Correlation, and How to Distinguish It from Causation:

This lesson introduces the students to the concepts of correlation and causation, and the difference between the two. The main learning objective is to encourage students to think critically about various possible explanations for a correlation, and to evaluate their plausibility, rather than passively taking presented information on faith. To give students the right tools for such analysis, the lesson covers most common reasons behind a correlation, and different possible types of causation.

Type: Lesson Plan

How Hot Is It?:

This lesson allows the students to connect the science of cricket chirps to mathematics. In this lesson, students will collect real data using the CD "Myths and Science of Cricket Chirps" (or use supplied data), display the data in a graph, and then find and use the mathematical model that fits their data.

Type: Lesson Plan

Analyzing Box Plots:

This lesson is designed for students to demonstrate their knowledge of box plots.

  • Students will need to create four box plots from given data.
  • Students will need to analyze the data displayed on the box plots by comparing similarities and differences.
  • Students will work with a partner to complete the displays and the follow-up questions.

Type: Lesson Plan

Texting and Standard Deviation:

This lesson uses texting to teach statistics. In the lesson, students will calculate the mean, median, and standard deviation. They will create a normal distribution using the mean and standard deviation and estimate population percentages. They will construct and interpret dot plots based on the data they collected. Students will also use similarities and differences in shape, center, and spread to determine who is better at texting, boys, or girls.

Type: Lesson Plan

Height vs. Shoe Size:

This resource provides an introductory lesson on Correlation, the Correlation Coefficient, and Correlation vs. Causation. The lesson is structured around collecting data from a survey at the beginning of class to be used in creating scatter plots and analyzing them using technology. Students engage in discussion activities that challenge their thoughts on linked variables in the media.

Type: Lesson Plan

Heart Rate and Exercise: Is there a correlation?:

Students will use supplied heart rate data to determine if heart rate and the amount of time spent exercising each week are correlated. Students will use GeoGebra to create scatter plots and lines of fit for the data and examine the correlation. Students will gather evidence to support or refute statistical statements made about correlation. The lesson provides easy to follow steps for using GeoGebra, a free online application, to generate a correlation coefficient for two given variables.

Type: Lesson Plan

Can You Walk in My Shoes?:

Students use real-life data to create dot-plots and two-way tables. Students will collect data at the beginning of the lesson and use that data to create double dot plots and frequency tables, finding and interpreting relative frequencies.

The assignment allows students to work collaboratively and cooperatively in groups. They will communicate within groups to compare shoes sizes and ages to acquire their data. From the collection of data they should be able to predict, analyze and organize the data into categories (two-way tables) or place on a number line (dot-plot).

As the class assignment concludes, a discussion of the final class display should take place about the purchasing of shoes versus ages and the relationship that either exists or doesn't exist.

Type: Lesson Plan

Span the Distance Glider - Correlation Coefficient:

This lesson will provide students with an opportunity to collect and analyze bivariate data and use technology to create scatter plots, lines of best fit, and determine the correlation strength of the data being compared. Students will have a hands on inquire based lesson that allows them to create gliders to analyze data. This lesson is an application of skills acquired in a bivariate unit of study.

Type: Lesson Plan

Exercise Your Brain, Analyze Your Heart Rate:

Students will compile the data gathered from measuring their resting heart rates and heart rates after exercising into box plots. Using these displays, they will analyze the data's center, shape, and spread.

Type: Lesson Plan

How Random is "Shuffle Mode"?:

Today's teenager is a savvy consumer of digital music and the constantly-evolving technology that plays it. Ask a typical student what they know about iTunes versus Pandora versus Spotify—most of them will have an opinion on the "best" service for listening to songs. This lesson links students' existing interest in music with the mathematical topics of frequency and relative frequency.

The activity assumes that students know what Shuffle Mode does when they listen to digital music. Shuffle Mode is a function on digital music players that "shuffles" or randomly rearranges the order of a list of songs. Each time a person presses Shuffle Mode, the playlist is rearranged. If we assume a music player's Shuffle Mode is truly random, the chances of any particular song being played would equal 1 divided by the total number of songs (1/total #). This is analogous to rolling a fair die; each number on the die has an equal probability of being rolled (1/6 or 16.7%).

Type: Lesson Plan

What's My Grade?:

"What's My Grade" is a lesson that will focus on a sample student's grades to demonstrate how a final grade is calculated as well as explore possible future grades. Students will create the distributions of each grade category using histograms. They will also analyze grades using mean and standard deviation. Students will use statistics to determine data distribution while comparing the center and spread of two or more different data sets.

Type: Lesson Plan

How tall is an 8th grader?:

Ever wonder about the differences in heights between students in grade 8? In this lesson, students will use data they collect to create and analyze multiple box plots using 5-number summaries. Students will make inferences about how height and another category may or may not be related.

Type: Lesson Plan

Plane Statistics:

This lesson starts with an activity to gather data using paper airplanes then progresses to using appropriate statistics to compare the center and spread of the data. Box plots are used in this application lesson of concepts and skills previously acquired.

Type: Lesson Plan

What's your preference?:

In this lesson, students will collect data and construct two-way frequency tables. They will analyze the two-way frequency table by calculating relative conditional frequencies.

Type: Lesson Plan

Standard Deviation and the Normal Curve in Kahoot!:

In this three-day lesson, students learn about standard deviation, the normal curve, and how they are applied. Your students will be engaged and learning when they collect and analyze data using a free Kahoot! quiz.

Type: Lesson Plan

Which One: Box plot, Dot Plot, or Histogram?:

Students will be asked to obtain data and create a human box plot, which will be analyzed and explained using statistical terms. Students will then understand the differences and advantages to using the box plot, histogram, and dot plot. Students will also practice selecting the most appropriate graphical representation for a set of data.

Type: Lesson Plan

What's Your Tendency?:

This resource can be used to teach students how to create and compare box plots. After completing this lesson, students should be able to answer questions in both familiar and unfamiliar situations.

Type: Lesson Plan

The Distance a Coin Will Travel:

This lesson is a hands-on activity that will allow students to collect and display data about how far different coins will travel. The data collected is then used to construct double dot plots and double box plots. This activity helps to facilitate the statistical implications of data collection and the application of central tendency and variability in data collection.

Type: Lesson Plan

Which is Better? Using Data to Make Choices:

Students use technology to analyze measures of center and variability in data. Data displays such as box plots, line plots, and histograms are used. The effects of outliers are taken into consideration when drawing conclusions. Students will cite evidence from the data to support their conclusions.

Type: Lesson Plan

How many licks does it take to get to the center?:

Students will create different displays, line plots, histograms, and box plots from data collected about types of lollipops. The data will be analyzed and compared. Students will determine "Which lollipop takes the fewest number of licks to get to the center: a Tootsie Pop, a Blow Pop, or a Dum Dum?"

Type: Lesson Plan

Birthday Party Decisions:

Students will create and compare four different boxplots to determine the best location for a birthday party.

Type: Lesson Plan

Outliers in the Outfield – Dealing With Extreme Data Points:

Students will explore the effects outliers have on the mean and median values using the Major League Baseball (MLB) salary statistics. They will create and compare box plots and analyze measures of center and variability. They will also be given a set of three box plots and asked to identify and compare their measures of center and variablity.

Type: Lesson Plan

Marshmallow Madness:

This lesson allows students to have a hands-on experience collecting real-world data, creating graphical representations, and analyzing their data. Students will make predictions as to the outcome of the data and compare their predictions to the actual outcome. Students will create and analyze line plots, histograms, and box plots.

Type: Lesson Plan

Comparing Data Using Box Plots:

Students will use box plots to compare two or more sets of data. They will analyze data in context by comparing the box plots of two or more data sets.

Type: Lesson Plan

Relative Frequency Tables... with extra cheese!:

Have students get colorful in defining marginal, joint and conditional frequencies of two-way frequency tables. Students will take charge in justifying the associations they find in the tables.

Type: Lesson Plan

High School Dropouts:

Students will examine dropout rates in the United States in 2012 by gender and race using data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics. Students will create conditional relative frequency tables to interpret the data and identify associations between genders, races, and dropout rates.

Type: Lesson Plan

It's Your Choice:

In groups, students will analyze associations between categorical data by constructing two-way frequency tables and two-way relative frequency tables. Students will analyze and interpret the results and present their findings to their classmates.

Type: Lesson Plan

How do we measure success?:

Students will use the normal distribution to estimate population percentages and calculate the values that fall within one, two, and three standard deviations of the mean. Students use statistics and a normal distribution to determine how well a participant performed in a math competition.

Type: Lesson Plan

How Old are the Players?:

For this lesson, students will research the ages of players on two basketball teams. They will find the five-number summary, the mean, and determine if there are outliers in the data set. Two box plots will be created and the measures of center and variation analyzed.

Type: Lesson Plan

Breakfast for Champions?:

Students will create and interpret two-way frequency tables using joint, marginal, and conditional frequencies in context. They will investigate whether breakfast is for champions.

Type: Lesson Plan

Centers, Spreads, and Outliers:

The students will compare the effects of outliers on measures of center and spread within dot plots and box plots.

Type: Lesson Plan

Why do I have to have a bedtime?:

This predict, observe, explain lesson that allows students to make predictions based on prior knowledge, observations, discussions, and calculations. Students will receive the opportunity to express themselves and their ideas while explaining what they learned. Students will make a prediction, collect data, and construct a scatter plot. Next, students will calculate the correlation coefficient and use it to describe the strength and magnitude of a relationship.

Type: Lesson Plan

Baking Soda and Vinegar: A statistical approach to a chemical reaction.:

Students experiment with baking soda and vinegar and use statistics to determine which ratio of ingredients creates the most carbon dioxide. This hands-on activity applies the concepts of plot, center, and spread.

Type: Lesson Plan

Should Statistics be Shapely?:

Students will Interpret differences in shape, center, and spread of a variety of data displays, accounting for possible effects of extreme data points.

Students will create a Human Box Plot using their data to master the standard and learning objectives, then complete interactive notes with the classroom teacher, a formative assessment, and later a summative assessment to show mastery.

Type: Lesson Plan

Using Two-Way Frequency Tables to Analyze Data:

The television program, 60 Minutes reports that parents are intentionally holding their children back in kindergarten to give them a competitive advantage in sports later on in life. The students will use data collected to decide if this is truly a trend in the United States.

Type: Lesson Plan

Quantitative or Qualitative?:

This lesson examines the differences between quantitative and qualitative data and guides students through displaying quantitative data on a scatter plot and then separating the data into qualitative categories to be displayed and interpreted in a two-way frequency table.

Type: Lesson Plan

The Cereal Prize Estimation:

How many boxes of cereal would you have to purchase to win all six prizes?

This lesson uses class data collected through simulations to allow students to answer this question. Students simulate purchasing cereal boxes and create a t-confidence interval with their data to determine how many boxes they can expect to buy.

Type: Lesson Plan

ENSO: Friend or Foe?:

In this activity students will compare El Nino / La Nina Anomaly data and compare the data to hurricane frequency in the Atlantic Basin. The ENSO Anomaly Data has been provided. Students will then research hurricane frequency and compare both data sets. To close the activity, students will need to apply the knowledge learned in the lesson to synthesize and make a prediction in a writing prompt.

Type: Lesson Plan

Are you a CrimiNole or Gatorbait? Two rivalries in one table!:

This is an introduction to two-way frequency tables. The lesson will be delivered using a PowerPoint presentation. The teacher will introduce and define joint and marginal frequency, demonstrate how two-way frequency tables are constructed from a given set of data, calculate relative frequencies, and draw conclusions based on the information in the table. Students will practice these skills through guided practice with the teacher, independent practice, and complete a summative assessment to measure student learning. All resources, including the PowerPoint, have been provided.

Type: Lesson Plan

Homework or Play?:

Students will be given data and then plot the data using a graphical method of choice (dot plot, bar graph, box plot, etc.) The students will work in groups and then analyze and summarize the data.

Type: Lesson Plan

Sweet Statistics - A Candy Journey:

Students will sort pieces of candy by color and then calculate statistical information such as mean, median, mode, interquartile range, and standard deviation. They will also create an Excel spreadsheet with the candy data to generate pie charts and column charts. Finally, they will compare experimental data to theoretical data and explain the differences between the two. This is intended to be an exercise for an Algebra 1 class. Students will need at least 2 class periods to sort their candy, make the statistical calculations, and create the charts in Excel.

Type: Lesson Plan

Two-Way Frequency Table and Relative Frequency:

In this lesson, the student will learn how to set up a two-way frequency table from two categorical variables and use the two-way frequency table to calculate frequency counts and relative frequency. The vocabulary terms learned in this lesson are two-way frequency table, relative frequency, joint frequency, marginal frequency, and conditional frequency.

Type: Lesson Plan

Interpreting Box Plots:

Students will analyze various real world scenario data sets and create, analyze, and interpret the components of the box plots. Students will use data from morning routines, track times, ages, etc. Lesson includes a PowerPoint, homework, and assessments.

Type: Lesson Plan

If the line fits, where's it?:

In this lesson students learn how to informally determine a "best fit" line for a scatter plot by considering the idea of closeness.

Type: Lesson Plan

The Debate: Who is a Better Baller?:

In this activity the students will use NBA statistics on Lebron James and Tim Duncan who were key players in the 2014 NBA Finals, to calculate, compare, and discuss mean, median, interquartile range, variance, and standard deviation. They will also construct and discuss box plots.

Type: Lesson Plan

Who's Better?--Using Data to Determine:

This lesson is intended for use after students are able to construct data plots (histograms, line plots, box plots). Students are tasked with not only constructing data plots, but also matching data plots to data sets. In the summative assessment, students are given two data sets and asked to select which of three data plots (histogram, line plot, or box plot) would best be used to compare the data. After choosing and constructing their plot, students are then tasked with forming a conclusion based on the plots they have constructed.

Type: Lesson Plan

Burgers to Smoothies.:

Students will create double box plots to compare nutritional data about popular food choices.

Type: Lesson Plan

Is It a Guess or Statistics?:

This lesson teaches random sampling which leads to making inferences about a larger group or population. Students will determine the best measure of center to use for a data set. Students will collect data, select a data display and then analyze the data.

Type: Lesson Plan

Correlation or Causation: That is the question:

Students will learn how to analyze whether two events/properties demonstrate a correlation or causation or both. They will learn what factors are involved when evaluating whether correlated events demonstrate causation. If two events are claimed to be causal when they are not, they will be able to determine why, and which (if any) causal fallacies are present. At the close of the lesson students will be given situational data and develop a newscast that assumes causation when in fact there is no causal link. Students who are observing will analyze each presentation and determine which (if any) causal fallacy was used (or explain why the newscast is correct in their assumption of causality).

Type: Lesson Plan

How hot are hot dogs?:

In this lesson, students will learn how to convert simple and two-way frequency tables into relative frequency tables using data collected in the classroom.

Type: Lesson Plan

Smarter than a Statistician: Correlations and Causation in the Real World!:

Students will learn to distinguish between correlation and causation. They will build their skills by playing two interactive digital games that are included in the lesson. The lesson culminates with a research project that requires students to find and explain the correlation between two real world events.

Type: Lesson Plan

Advantages and Disadvantages of Dot Plots, Histograms, and Box Plots:

Students will compare the advantages and disadvantages of dot plots, histograms, and box plots. During this lesson, students will review the statistical process and learn the characteristics of a statistical question; whether it be numerical or categorical. Students will apply the information learned in a project that involves real-world issues and make an analysis based on the data collected.

Type: Lesson Plan

Inferences:

This lesson shows students how to conduct a survey and display their results. The lesson takes the students through:

  1. What is a statistical question?
  2. General population versus sample population.
  3. What is a hypothesis?
  4. What is a survey?
  5. How to make inferences.

Type: Lesson Plan

Is Milk Killing People?:

Students will explore correlation and causation from data through class discussions of real-world examples. They will know positive, negative, strong, and weak correlations. Students make predictions regarding the feasibility of causation by analyzing graphs and scatter plots of data.

Students will participate in an experiment where they will generate and analyze their own data. They will come to conclusion regarding variations in data, correlation and causation. Students are encouraged to explain and justify their responses. The teacher will facilitate discussion of leading question to be geared towards the learning objectives.

During the lesson, students will be assessed by several formative assessments and a summative assessment at the conclusion. The lesson includes a worksheet and data collection sheets.

Type: Lesson Plan

Where Should I Go to College? :

Students will create and use data displays to determine which college is the right fit for him or her / for hypothetical students. They will justify the data displays they selected, present this information to classmates and write an essay justifying their choice.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Type: Lesson Plan

Flower Power:

In this MEA students compare data from different commercial floral preservatives. Students are asked to choose which is the best preservative for a certain floral arrangement.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Type: Lesson Plan

A MEANingful Discussion about Central Tendency:

Using relatable scenarios, this lesson explores the mean and median of a data set and how an outlier affects each measure differently.

Type: Lesson Plan

Interpret Population Data with Graphs and Tables:

Students will use the calculated population totals to create graphs that help to visualize the totals for analyzing and representation. Census data is used as the data to provide information to analyze. Students will then use basic functions and formulas in spreadsheets to help analyze and represent the data.

Type: Lesson Plan

Scatter plots, spaghetti, and predicting the future:

Students will construct a scatter plot from given data. They will identify the correlation, sketch an approximate line of fit, and determine an equation for the line of fit. They will explain the meaning of the slope and y-intercept in the context of the data and use the line of fit to interpolate and extrapolate values.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorials

Movies Part 2: What’s the Spread?:

Follow Jake along as he relates box plots with other plots and identifies possible outliers in real-world data from surveys of moviegoers' ages in part 2 in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 2 of 2-part series, click HERE to view part 1.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Movies Part 1: What's the Spread?:

Follow Jake as he displays real-world data by creating box plots showing the 5 number summary and compares the spread of the data from surveys of the ages of moviegoers in part 1 of this interactive tutorial.

This is part 1 of 2-part series, click HERE to view part 2.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Perspectives Video: Experts

Statistical Sampling Results in setting Legal Catch Rate:

Fish Ecologist, Dean Grubbs, discusses how using statistical sampling can help determine legal catch rates for fish that may be endangered.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

Mathematically Modeling Hurricanes:

Entrepreneur and meteorologist Mark Powell discusses the need for statistics in his mathematical modeling program to help better understand hurricanes.

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

PTSD: Correlation vs Causation:

Jens Foell discusses the link between correlation and causation in PTSD patients.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

Histograms Show Trends in Fisheries Data Over Time:

NOAA Fishery management relies on histograms to show patterns and trends over time of fishery data.

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

The Criminal Brain and Correlation vs. Causation:

Florida State Researcher, Jens Foell, discusses the importance of understanding correlation versus causation when researching personality traits and criminal behavior.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

Statistical Inferences and Confidence Intervals :

Florida State University Counseling Psychologist discusses how he uses confidence intervals to make inferences on college students' experiences on campus based on a sample of students.

Type: Perspectives Video: Expert

Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiasts

Nestle Waters & Statistical Analysis:

Hydrogeologist from Nestle Waters discusses the importance of statistical tests in monitoring sustainability and in maintaining consistent water quality in bottled water.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Fishery Independent vs Dependent Sampling Methods for Fishery Management:

NOAA Scientist Doug Devries discusses the differences between fishery independent surveys and fishery independent surveys.  Discussion includes trap sampling as well as camera sampling. Using graphs to show changes in population of red snapper.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Camera versus Trap Sampling: Improving how NOAA Samples Fish :

Underwater sampling with cameras has made fishery management more accurate for NOAA scientists.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Sampling Strategies for Ecology Research in the Intertidal Zone:

Will Ryan describes methods for collecting multiple random samples of anemones in coastal marine environments.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Filtering Noise from a Data Sample:

Safe water? Safe soil? How can we calibrate our equipment to detect small levels of pollutants and ignore other substances in the sample?

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Graphs Help Identify Cost-Effective Sea Turtle Conservation Strategies:

This marine biologist discusses her use of graphical representations to help determine the most cost-effective management strategies for sea turtle conservation.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Correlation and Causation in a Scientific Study:

Watching this video will cause your critical thinking skills to improve. You might also have a great day, but that's just correlation.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Perspectives Video: Teaching Ideas

Pitfall Trap Classroom Activity:

Patrick Milligan shares a teaching idea for collecting insect samples.

Type: Perspectives Video: Teaching Idea

Ecological Sampling Methods and Population Density:

Dr. David McNutt explains how a simple do-it-yourself quadrat and a transect can be used for ecological sampling to estimate population density in a given area.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Teaching Idea

Problem-Solving Tasks

Speed Trap:

The purpose of this task is to allow students to demonstrate an ability to construct boxplots and to use boxplots as the basis for comparing distributions.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Haircut Costs:

This problem could be used as an introductory lesson to introduce group comparisons and to engage students in a question they may find amusing and interesting.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Golf and Divorce:

This is a simple task addressing the distinction between correlation and causation. Students are given information indicating a correlation between two variables, and are asked to reason out whether or not a causation can be inferred.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Coffee and Crime:

This problem solving task asks students to examine the relationship between shops and crimes by using a correlation coefficient. The implications of linking correlation with causation are discussed.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Random Walk III:

The task provides a context to calculate discrete probabilities and represent them on a bar graph.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

The Titanic 3:

This problem solving task asks students to determine probabilities and draw conclusions about the survival rates on the Titanic using a table of data.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

How Is the Weather?:

This task can be used as a quick assessment to see if students can make sense of a graph in the context of a real world situation. Students also have to pay attention to the scale on the vertical axis to find the correct match. The first and third graphs look very similar at first glance, but the function values are very different since the scales on the vertical axes are very different. The task could also be used to generate a group discussion on interpreting functions given by graphs.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Music and Sports:

This task asks the student to gather data on whether classmates play an instrument and/or participate in a sport, summarize the data in a table and decide whether there is an association between playing a sport and playing an instrument. Finally, the student is asked to create a graph to display any association between the variables.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

What's Your Favorite Subject?:

Students are asked to examine data given in table format and then calculate either row percentages or column percentages and state a conclusion about the meaning of the data. Either calculation is appropriate for the solution since there is no clear relationship between the variables. Whether the student sees a strong association or not is less important than whether his or her answer uses the data appropriately and demonstrates understanding that an association means the distribution of favorite subject is different for 7th graders and 8th graders.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Text Resource

Sample Size Calculation:

This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. This article describes the important process used when setting up trials for statistical investigation. The article explains each parameter that is needed to calculate the sample size, then provides examples and illustrates the process. This article will enhance an upper level math course's study of statistics after significance levels and basic inferential statistics concepts have been taught.

Type: Text Resource

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorials

Movies Part 2: What’s the Spread?:

Follow Jake along as he relates box plots with other plots and identifies possible outliers in real-world data from surveys of moviegoers' ages in part 2 in this interactive tutorial.

This is part 2 of 2-part series, click HERE to view part 1.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Movies Part 1: What's the Spread?:

Follow Jake as he displays real-world data by creating box plots showing the 5 number summary and compares the spread of the data from surveys of the ages of moviegoers in part 1 of this interactive tutorial.

This is part 1 of 2-part series, click HERE to view part 2.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Lesson Plans

Do Credit Cards Make You Gain Weight? What is Correlation, and How to Distinguish It from Causation:

This lesson introduces the students to the concepts of correlation and causation, and the difference between the two. The main learning objective is to encourage students to think critically about various possible explanations for a correlation, and to evaluate their plausibility, rather than passively taking presented information on faith. To give students the right tools for such analysis, the lesson covers most common reasons behind a correlation, and different possible types of causation.

Type: Lesson Plan

Interpret Population Data with Graphs and Tables:

Students will use the calculated population totals to create graphs that help to visualize the totals for analyzing and representation. Census data is used as the data to provide information to analyze. Students will then use basic functions and formulas in spreadsheets to help analyze and represent the data.

Type: Lesson Plan

Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Correlation and Causation in a Scientific Study:

Watching this video will cause your critical thinking skills to improve. You might also have a great day, but that's just correlation.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Problem-Solving Tasks

Speed Trap:

The purpose of this task is to allow students to demonstrate an ability to construct boxplots and to use boxplots as the basis for comparing distributions.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Haircut Costs:

This problem could be used as an introductory lesson to introduce group comparisons and to engage students in a question they may find amusing and interesting.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Golf and Divorce:

This is a simple task addressing the distinction between correlation and causation. Students are given information indicating a correlation between two variables, and are asked to reason out whether or not a causation can be inferred.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Coffee and Crime:

This problem solving task asks students to examine the relationship between shops and crimes by using a correlation coefficient. The implications of linking correlation with causation are discussed.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Random Walk III:

The task provides a context to calculate discrete probabilities and represent them on a bar graph.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

The Titanic 3:

This problem solving task asks students to determine probabilities and draw conclusions about the survival rates on the Titanic using a table of data.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

How Is the Weather?:

This task can be used as a quick assessment to see if students can make sense of a graph in the context of a real world situation. Students also have to pay attention to the scale on the vertical axis to find the correct match. The first and third graphs look very similar at first glance, but the function values are very different since the scales on the vertical axes are very different. The task could also be used to generate a group discussion on interpreting functions given by graphs.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Music and Sports:

This task asks the student to gather data on whether classmates play an instrument and/or participate in a sport, summarize the data in a table and decide whether there is an association between playing a sport and playing an instrument. Finally, the student is asked to create a graph to display any association between the variables.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

What's Your Favorite Subject?:

Students are asked to examine data given in table format and then calculate either row percentages or column percentages and state a conclusion about the meaning of the data. Either calculation is appropriate for the solution since there is no clear relationship between the variables. Whether the student sees a strong association or not is less important than whether his or her answer uses the data appropriately and demonstrates understanding that an association means the distribution of favorite subject is different for 7th graders and 8th graders.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Correlation and Causation in a Scientific Study:

Watching this video will cause your critical thinking skills to improve. You might also have a great day, but that's just correlation.

Download the CPALMS Perspectives video student note taking guide.

Type: Perspectives Video: Professional/Enthusiast

Problem-Solving Tasks

Speed Trap:

The purpose of this task is to allow students to demonstrate an ability to construct boxplots and to use boxplots as the basis for comparing distributions.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Haircut Costs:

This problem could be used as an introductory lesson to introduce group comparisons and to engage students in a question they may find amusing and interesting.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Golf and Divorce:

This is a simple task addressing the distinction between correlation and causation. Students are given information indicating a correlation between two variables, and are asked to reason out whether or not a causation can be inferred.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Coffee and Crime:

This problem solving task asks students to examine the relationship between shops and crimes by using a correlation coefficient. The implications of linking correlation with causation are discussed.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Random Walk III:

The task provides a context to calculate discrete probabilities and represent them on a bar graph.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

The Titanic 3:

This problem solving task asks students to determine probabilities and draw conclusions about the survival rates on the Titanic using a table of data.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

How Is the Weather?:

This task can be used as a quick assessment to see if students can make sense of a graph in the context of a real world situation. Students also have to pay attention to the scale on the vertical axis to find the correct match. The first and third graphs look very similar at first glance, but the function values are very different since the scales on the vertical axes are very different. The task could also be used to generate a group discussion on interpreting functions given by graphs.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

Music and Sports:

This task asks the student to gather data on whether classmates play an instrument and/or participate in a sport, summarize the data in a table and decide whether there is an association between playing a sport and playing an instrument. Finally, the student is asked to create a graph to display any association between the variables.

Type: Problem-Solving Task

What's Your Favorite Subject?:

Students are asked to examine data given in table format and then calculate either row percentages or column percentages and state a conclusion about the meaning of the data. Either calculation is appropriate for the solution since there is no clear relationship between the variables. Whether the student sees a strong association or not is less important than whether his or her answer uses the data appropriately and demonstrates understanding that an association means the distribution of favorite subject is different for 7th graders and 8th graders.

Type: Problem-Solving Task