Unit Plan 27 (Grade 6 Math): Statistical Questions & Distributions
6th graders explore statistical thinking by writing statistical questions, collecting data, and describing distributions. Students analyze shape, center, and spread to interpret variability, communicate findings clearly, and connect data patterns to real-world contexts.
Focus: Identify statistical questions, collect/describe data, and discuss shape, center, and spread informally.
Grade Level: 6
Subject Area: Mathematics (Statistics & Probability — Statistical Questions, Variability, Distributions)
Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session
I. Introduction
Students learn what makes a question statistical (it anticipates variability) and practice collecting small data sets to create and describe distributions. Using quick class-generated data (heights of jumps, minutes of reading, number of pets), they describe overall shape (clusters, gaps, peaks, possible outliers), typical values (informal center), and spread (informal range/variability) without formal calculations yet.
Essential Questions
- What is a statistical question, and why must it anticipate variability?
- How do we describe a distribution using shape, center (typical), and spread (variability)?
- How do context and units help us interpret data responsibly?
II. Objectives and Standards
Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:
- Distinguish statistical questions from non-statistical ones by checking for anticipated variability.
- Collect small, meaningful data sets with clear units and simple recording structures.
- Create quick dot/line plots or tally tables to visualize a distribution.
- Describe a distribution’s shape (clusters/gaps/peaks), informal center (typical value), and spread (how values vary).
- Communicate findings with precise data language tied to the context.
Standards Alignment — CCSS Grade 6
- 6.SP.1: Recognize a statistical question as one that anticipates variability in the data and accounts for it.
- 6.SP.2: Understand that data collected to answer a statistical question has a distribution which can be described by its center, spread, and overall shape.
- Mathematical Practices emphasized: MP.1 (make sense), MP.3 (justify), MP.4 (model), MP.6 (precision), MP.7 (structure).
Success Criteria — Student Language
- I can tell if a question is statistical because it expects different answers (variability).
- I can collect data with clear units and organize it in a plot or table.
- I can describe the shape (clusters, gaps, peaks), a typical value (center), and the spread (how much values vary).
- I can explain what the data means in the real-world context.