Teacher Resources

In this module, students will use the measures of center and spread to describe, interpret and compare one-variable data sets. The focus of the module will be on standard deviation. This self-paced module is aligned with the Maryland College- and Career-Ready Standards in Mathematics for Algebra 1, which are based on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

This module contains several interactive features. Watch the Learn How to Use this Module tutorial to familiarize yourself with these features.

Please review the Accessibility page for all of your students.

Module Information

  • Grade Band: Algebra 1, Grades 7-12
  • Topic: Interpreting Data: Center and Spread
  • Completion Time: 10 - 20 minutes
  • Vocabulary: Visit the Glossary page for definitions of key vocabulary in this module.
  • Focus Standards:
    • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSS.ID.A.1 - Represent data with plots on the real number line (dot plots, histograms, and box plots).
    • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSS.ID.A.2 - Use statistics appropriate to the shape of the data distribution to compare center (median, mean) and spread (interquartile range, standard deviation) of two or more different data sets.
    • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSS.ID.A.3 - Interpret differences in shape, center, and spread in the context of the data sets, accounting for possible effects of extreme data points (outliers).

    The focus of the module will be on standard deviation, since this is the major piece of new learning in this collection of standards. It will be assumed that the students know how to construct the various plots dot plots, histograms, and box plots, and know how to calculate measures of center. These concepts are taught in Grade 6 and Grade 7 mathematics.

  • Skills
    • Calculate mean, median, standard deviation, interquartile range.
    • Use the measures of center and spread to describe the distribution o data, compare the distribution of two data sets, and to solve problems.

Student Resources for this Module

In this module, students are provided with a link to an external website(s). The site has been chosen for its content and grade-level appropriateness. Efforts are made to minimize linking to websites that contain advertisements or comments, but some websites may contain these features. Teachers should preview all websites before introducing the activities to students and adhere to their school system's policy for Internet use. In addition, multimedia on these externally linked sites may not be accessible to all users, such as those individuals requiring a screen reader or using a tablet.

The following websites are linked to from this module:

Mathbits: Basic Commands Opens a new window
This site provides directions for calculating the one-variable statistics in the graphing calculator.

Mathbits: Mean, Mode, Median with Grouped Data Opens a new window
This is where you can find the mean, median, quartiles, and standard deviation for sets of data.

Mathbits: Histograms
This site provides directions on constructing histograms in the graphing calculator. Follow these same steps for constructing box and whisker plots.

Using This Site

This lesson is built for use on classroom computers and tablets. If you have access to a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or an interactive whiteboard in your classroom, you may complete the lesson in your classroom. Otherwise, you will need to schedule time to use your school's computer lab. For technical specifications, see below.

Some activities on this site may include videos and narration, so you may want to have headphones available for students working at individual stations. For best results in viewing the videos and interactives, you should have a high-speed, stable Internet connection.

This lesson may contain PDFs for students to complete. They can print the PDFs and fill them out by hand, or download the files and fill them out on the computer. Most or all portions can be filled out online. Please check with your Instructional Technology Specialist for instructions on downloading the PDF. (Note that to complete the PDFs on the computer, you will need a viewer, such as Adobe Reader, that supports forms.)

Technology

This site is an Internet-based activity, and it was built to run on the following computer operating systems and browsers:

  • Windows 7 or Newer: IE 8, 9, 10, 11; Current version of Chrome; Current version of Firefox
  • Mac OS 10.7 or Newer: Current version of Safari
  • iPad2/iOS6 or Newer: Current version of Safari
  • Android 4.0 or Newer: Current version of Android browser
  • Chromebook: Current version of Chrome

Users running Internet Explorer 8 will not be able to use the highlighter tool. Instead, teachers should consider partnering students for a brief discussion.

Visit the Accessibility page for detailed information on the site's accessibility features.