A quick discussion question that brings some collaboration into your classroom will allow your thinkers to make a decision about sampling. Mr. Briggs wants to know if the results from his class are a valuable comparison to the entire...

Sample an excellent resource on sampling variability. Pupils analyze census data on the percentage of homes in each state that have Internet access. They take random samples of different sample sizes, determine the sample means, and then...

Your class will learn what it means to take a random sample of a population and to draw inferences from the information gained. In part a, of the exercise, you discuss with your class how learners during a class election can be best...

Seventh grade statisticians randomly select five states and then determine the mean area. The class then works together to create a dot plot of their results. 

There is bias in many aspects of our lives, and math is no exception! Learners explore provided data to understand the meaning of biased and random samples. The resource includes various data sets from the same population, and...

if you've ever had to guess how many items were in a jar, then this problem is for you! With a big jar full of red and white marbles, does picking a sample of 16 allow your learners to get a good estimate on the percentages of each...

More education in statistics is always beneficial. Given cards that provide the proportion of adults with bachelor's degrees in 10 random US states, scholars individually determine the sample percentage of states in which more than 30...

Here's a sweet activity! As part of a study of psychological research methods and statistic gathering, individuals develop a hypothesis about the number of each color of M&Ms in a fun-size package. They then count the number of each...

What makes a good sample? Your classes collaborate to answer this question through a task involving areas of rectangles. Given a set of 100 rectangles, they sample a set of five rectangles to estimate the average area of the figures. The...

When more basketball players are taller than field hockey players at a school, is it safe to say that in general they are always taller? The activity takes data from two college teams and your learners will be able to answer questions...

Your statisticians draw several samplings from the same data set, some randomized and some not, and consider the distribution of the sample means of the two different types of samplings. The exercise demonstrates that non-random samples...

High schoolers investigate the greenhouse effect and examine the potential effects of climate change in the Arctic. They construct a mini-greenhouse and test its effect on temperature, analyze historical climate statistics, and conduct...

Analyze data on a graph to answer three questions after a robot race. Learners practice comparing ratios and reading points on a graph. Answers may vary on the last question based on accuracy of graphing. Use the lesson along with...

If a random sample determines that 45% of students favor block scheduling, is it possible that the actual percentage might be 50% or 60%? In this task, learners use data from a computer-generated simulation to determine the plausibility...

A jar is filled with 1,500 marbles and customers of a bank can enter a contest to guess the correct percentage of blue marbles. How can an employee at the bank estimate the actual percentage without physically counting all 1,500 marbles?...

When a random sample isn't enough, your math class can compare the data from a physical simulation to decide if the probability is still likely. The lesson plan is part of a probability series that focuses on one question and different...

If you like rap music, are you more likely to like rock music?  Use statistical analysis to determine if there is a positive association between rap and rock in this particular sample. While the problem is relatively simple, the...

Let the task burst your mind. Scholars estimate the frequency that both Starbursts in a pack are yellow out of 287 packs. They apply probability concepts to complete the sweet task.

What is the probability that two randomly seated people will be across from each other at a square table? Check learners' understanding of theoretical probability and compound events with this short assessment. A great opportunity to...

Build on probability and incorporate a random number generator to select outcomes for a school election. Your learners will record their results on a dot plot and answer questions regarding whether their candidate has a chance at the...

How would you choose three students from your class to be on a school panel that would represent a fair and representative view of opinions?  This brief activity offers four different sampling methods to choose from and asks for...

Candy is always a good motivator! Use this collection of M&M's® experiments to introduce statistics topics, including mean, standard deviation, nonlinear transformation, and many more. The use of a hands-on model with...

Whodunnit? Find out who killed Mr. Brooks through a logical examination of evidence. Class members fill out a couple of data tables to help them pin down the suspect. After they've figured out just who the culprit is, pupils compose...

Here is a fitting question for middle schoolers to consider: Is there a relationship between grade point average and frequency of sending texts? Starting statisticians examine a scatter plot and discuss any patterns seen.