Grade 6 Mathematics · Unit 2: Understanding the World Around Us Through StatisticsStandard 6.DS.1

Lesson 2.12.1 Small Group · Group 2

Start hereWords, worked example, and sentence starters

Name Date Period

Learning target I can tell the difference between a statistical question and a non-statistical question, explain how I can tell, and judge a case I have not seen before.

Start hereWords for this lesson

Read each word before you begin. Say it out loud.

WordWhat it meansExample
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?

  1. Ask: would different people give different answers to this question?
  2. Picture real answers: 22 minutes, 47 minutes, 61 minutes. They are not all the same.
  3. 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?

  1. Would different people give different answers?
  2. Write two answers you might hear: and
  3. Circle one: statistical / non-statistical. Because
Answer:statistical or non-statistical, with a reason

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.

Grade 6 Mathematics · Unit 2: Understanding the World Around Us Through StatisticsStandard 6.DS.1

Lesson 2.12.1 Small Group · Group 2

Group 2Challenge practice

Mastery check☐ Exceeds☐ Meets target☐ Needs practice
Name Date Period

Learning target I can tell the difference between a statistical question and a non-statistical question, explain how I can tell, and judge a case I have not seen before.

  1. 1Complete each step, then write the final answer.
    67891011Hours of sleep
    One student, seven nights, answers that vary.

    Is this a statistical question? "How many hours do I sleep each night this week?" On 7 nights, the hours were 8, 9, 7, 8, 10, 9 and 8.

    1. 1Who is the question about?
    2. 2How many answers do you collect?
    3. 3The answers vary. Is it a statistical question? Type yes or no.
    Final answer:
  2. 2Complete each step, then write the final answer.

    "How many goals did Sam score in today's game?" is not statistical. Change it into a statistical question.

    1. 1Which words make one fixed answer?
    2. 2Change them to ask about many games.
    3. 3Do the answers to the new question vary? Type yes or no.
    4. 4Why do you need data for the new question, but not for the old one?
    Final answer:
  3. 3Complete each step, then write the final answer.

    Is this a statistical question? "How many minutes does Lena take to get dressed each morning?" Type yes or no.

    Show your work
    Final answer:
  4. 4Complete each step, then write the final answer.

    Which question is NOT statistical? A: "How many pages does each book on this shelf have?" B: "How many pages does this book have?" Type A or B.

    Show your work
    Final answer:
  5. 5Complete each step, then write the final answer.
    33.13.23.33.43.53.63.73.8Jump distance (meters)

    A coach asks, "How far does Jada jump on each try?" Her 6 tries are 3.2, 3.5, 3.1, 3.6, 3.4 and 3.5 meters. Is this a statistical question? Type yes or no.

    Show your work
    Final answer:
  6. 6Complete each step, then write the final answer.

    Raj says "How many students are in our class?" is statistical because it is about many students. Is Raj right? Type yes or no.

    Show your work
    Final answer:

Explain your thinkingCan a question about only one person be statistical? Use Lena's or Jada's question to defend your answer.

ChallengeWrite your own problem

Write a new word problem that uses this lesson's idea. Then solve it and show every step.

How did it go? ☐ 4 · I can teach it☐ 3 · I've got it☐ 2 · I need a hint☐ 1 · I need help