Content Area: Math

 

Index: 4.4A Grade 7 CPI 1

 

Standard: 4.4 - Data Analysis, Probability, and Discrete Mathematics

 

Strand: A - Data Analysis

 

Cumulative Progress Indicator:1 -  The student will select and use appropriate representations for sets of data, and measures of central tendency

·        Type of display most appropriate for given data

·        Box-and-whisker plot, upper quartile, lower quartile

·        Scatter plot

·        Calculators and computer used to record and process information

 

Grade: 7

 

Sample Activities:

 

·        Students study the sneakers worn by students in the school. They form into a human histogram based upon their brand of sneakers. The data is recorded and a discussion is encouraged about the distribution of sneakers throughout the school. Students discuss in their journals which of the measures of central tendency a sporting goods store would use in determining which brands to stock and in what proportion. The students gather prices for a variety of brands and styles and enter the data into a spreadsheet. They respond in their journal as to whether and why the mean, median, or mode would be most useful to discuss sneaker prices.

 

·        Presented with a list of OPEC countries and their estimated crude oil production in a recent year, students determine how best to report the data. Some present their graphs as box plots, others use histograms, and others use circle graphs. They use the three measures of central tendency and discuss what each result would mean in this situation and which would be best to use in other situations.

 

·        Students work on problems like this one from the New Jersey Department of Education's Mathematics Instructional Guide (p. 7-99):  A set of test scores in Mrs. Ditkof's class of 20 students is shown below. 62   77   82   88   73   64   82   85   90   75   74   81   85   89   96   69   74   98   91   85 Determine the mean, median, mode, and range for the data. Suppose each student completes an extra-credit assignment worth 5 points, which is then added to his/her score. What is the mean of the set of scores now if each student received the extra five points? Explain how you calculated your answer.