Lesson 2.12.1 Small Group · Group 1
Start hereWords, worked example, and sentence starters
Learning target With my small group, I can tell the difference between a statistical question and a non-statistical question — one step at a time, with support.
Start hereWords for this lesson
Read each word before you begin. Say it out loud.
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Statistical QuestionSpanish: Pregunta estadística | A question where the answers will be different for different people. | How tall is each student? |
| Non-statistical QuestionSpanish: Pregunta no estadística | A question that does not anticipate variability in the data used to answer it. It may ask for one fact or measurement. | How tall is the flagpole? |
| DataSpanish: Datos | Facts and numbers you collect, like answers to a survey. | 0, 2, 5, 1 pets |
| VariabilitySpanish: Variabilidad | How spread out the numbers are. | 0, 2, 5 pets — answers vary |
| SurveySpanish: Encuesta | Collecting facts by asking people questions. | Asking classmates one question |
| Data distributionSpanish: Distribución de datos | How the data looks: where it sits and how spread out it is. | A distribution is symmetric when its left and right sides have approximately matching shapes around the center. |
How it worksWorked exampletesting a question for variability
These numbers are not on your problems. The steps are. Follow them with your own numbers.
Is "How many minutes did you spend on homework last night?" a statistical question?
- Ask: would different people give different answers to this question?
- Picture real answers: 22 minutes, 47 minutes, 61 minutes. They are not all the same.
- Answers that vary can be collected as data, so the question is statistical.
Answer: Yes. It is a statistical question because the answers vary from person to person.
Now you trySame steps, your turn
The steps are the same as the worked example. The numbers are yours. Do the work.
Is "How many minutes long is our lunch period?" a statistical question?
- Would different people give different answers?
- Write two answers you might hear: and
- Circle one: statistical / non-statistical. Because
Say it and write itSentence starters
Finish each sentence out loud with a partner. Then use them in your writing.
- This question statistical because .
- I expect the answers to from person to person.
- A non-statistical question has answer.
- The data I would collect might look like .
Word bank statisticalnon-statisticalvariabilitydatasurveyvaryanswerscollectfixeddifferentquestiontypical
Watch outA common mistake
A common mistake in Statistical Questions and Data is judging a question by its topic or its numbers instead of its variability. Students see a question about ONE player, ONE game, or ONE fixed fact — like "How many points does the team need to win a game?" — and call it statistical just because it has a number or is about sports. Or they see a question about a single player's whole season, like "How many touchdowns did the quarterback throw this season?", and call it NOT statistical because only one player is named, forgetting that a season covers many games with a different result each time. Both errors skip the real test: will the answers actually differ from case to case (game to game, player to player)? If yes, it is a statistical question; if there is one fixed answer, it is not.
Lesson 2.12.1 Small Group · Group 1
Group 1Supported practice
Learning target With my small group, I can tell the difference between a statistical question and a non-statistical question — one step at a time, with support.
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1Complete each step, then write the final answer.
Five students, different times. Is this a statistical question? "How many minutes does each student in our group take to eat lunch?" The answers are 15, 20, 20, 25 and 30.
- 1Who is the question about?
- 2Are the answers different? Type yes or no.
- 3Is it a statistical question? Type yes or no.
Final answer: -
2Complete each step, then write the final answer.
One lunch period: only one value. Is this a statistical question? "How many minutes long is our lunch period today?" The lunch period is 30 minutes.
- 1Who or what is the question about?
- 2How many different answers can it have?
- 3Is it a statistical question? Type yes or no.
Final answer: -
3Complete each step, then write the final answer.
Is this a statistical question? "How tall is each student in our class?" Type yes or no.
Show your workHint Think about many students. Will they all be the same height?
Final answer: -
4Complete each step, then write the final answer.
A soccer team has 11 players on the field. Is "How many players does one team have on the field?" a statistical question? Type yes or no.
Show your workHint Will everyone who checks find the same number?
Final answer: -
5Complete each step, then write the final answer.
Ana asks students, "How many books did you read this month?" She gets the answers 0, 2, 2, 3 and 5. Is her question statistical? Type yes or no.
Show your workHint Look at Ana's answers. Are they all the same?
Final answer: -
6Complete each step, then write the final answer.
Leo says "How many days are in March?" is a statistical question because March has many days. Is Leo right? Type yes or no.
Show your workHint Many days is not the test. Ask: will the answers be different?
Final answer:
Explain your thinkingHow can you tell if a question is statistical? Use the two lunch questions to explain.
Sentence starter A question is statistical when ___. · The question about ___ is not statistical because ___.