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Lesson Plan Mean Mode Median

This lesson teaches students about measures of central tendency (median, mode, mean) and dispersion (range) by using a fictional town called Whateverville that experiences extreme temperature fluctuations due to a rogue weather machine. Students practice calculating these metrics using temperature data sets from Whateverville. They analyze bar graphs depicting the mayor's popularity over time to interpret changes in public opinion. The goal is for students to understand and apply these statistical concepts.

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Salmizam Izam
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282 views6 pages

Lesson Plan Mean Mode Median

This lesson teaches students about measures of central tendency (median, mode, mean) and dispersion (range) by using a fictional town called Whateverville that experiences extreme temperature fluctuations due to a rogue weather machine. Students practice calculating these metrics using temperature data sets from Whateverville. They analyze bar graphs depicting the mayor's popularity over time to interpret changes in public opinion. The goal is for students to understand and apply these statistical concepts.

Uploaded by

Salmizam Izam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Investigating Median, Mode, and Mean

INTRODUCTION
This lesson provides students with an opportunity to identify and apply median, mode, range, and
mean.
OBJECTIVES
Students will:

develop a strategic approach to organizing data.

understand the relationship between numbers in a data set through the calculation of
median, mode, mean, and range.

analyze data from tables and interpret double bar graphs.

SUGGESTED TIME ALLOWANCE


This lesson can be divided into three or four smaller lessons, each lasting about 15-20 minutes.
MATERIALS
Student:

ball of string

scissors

yardstick or meter stick

Understanding Mean Activity Sheet

Further Questioning Activity Sheet

Independent Practice Sheet

Assessment Questions Sheet

Extension Table

Extension Questions

Mean Homework

Teacher:

overhead transparencies of:

Whateverville's Temperatures One Week

Whateverville's Temperature for Ten More Days

Mayor Wallop's Popularity Graph

Understanding Mean Activity Sheet Answer Key

Further Questioning Answer Key

Independent Practice Answer Key

Assessment Questions Answer Key

Extension Questions Answer Key

Mean Homework Answer Key

PROCEDURES
1. Introduce key vocabulary: median, mode, mean, range.
2. Tell this story to the class.
The residents of Whateverville need your help! Mayor Wallop, a scientist, has invented a
weather machine. Now he's in control of the weather for the entire region and has
subjected the residents of Whateverville to so many different temperatures that they don't
know what season it is. One day it's snowing; the next day it's over 100 degrees! The
plants are dying, and people are getting sick. Take a look at the temperatures in the past
week.
3. Show Whateverville's Temperatures One Week
4. Explain that the first step to help the residents of Whateverville solve this problem is to
sort the temperatures from least to greatest.
0

10

50

50

62

90

106

5. Ask:
o

What is the highest temperature this week? (106)

What is the lowest? (0)

What is the middle temperature in the set of temperatures ordered from least to
greatest? (50) This is the median.

What is the temperature that occurs most frequently? (50) This is the mode.

What is the difference between the highest temperature and the lowest
temperature? (106 - 0 = 106). This is the range.

Based on the range, would you say the data are clustered together or spread out?
Would the range of normal weather patterns be large or small? Explain your
reasoning. (The data from Whateverville is spread out; normal weather patterns
should have a smaller range.)

What do you think is an average spring temperature in our area? (Answers will
vary.)

How can you calculate the average or mean temperature in Whateverville? (The
mean can be found by adding all the numbers together and dividing by the
number of temperatures.)

6. Write the simplified definitions for median, mode, mean, and range on the chalkboard for
easy reference. median - middle number
o

mode - most frequent number

mean - average

range - difference between greatest and least number

7. Model Your Thinking:


If I want to find the mean or average, I add all the temperatures together (0 + 10 + 50 +
50 + 62 + 90 + 106 = 368) and divide by the number of temperatures in the set (7). (368
7 = 52.57). Then I can round to the tenths place (52.6).
8. Continue the story:
Mayor Wallop hears the complaints of the residents, and for the next 10 days he tries to
adjust his temperatures to the average spring temperature in the region.
9. Display Whateverville's Temperature for Ten More Days. Then guide the class using
statements and questions such as these:
o

Arrange this data from least to greatest. (45, 48, 51, 53, 55, 57, 62, 63,
69, 101)

What is the median? (If the data set has two middle numbers, in this case 55
and 57, then the median is the number halfway between the two-56.)

What is the mode? (There is no mode because no number occurs more than
once.)

What is the range? (101 - 45 = 56)

What is the mean? (45 + 48 + 51 + 53 + 55 + 57 + 62 + 63 + 69 + 101 = 604. 604


10 = 60.4)

Which temperature would you eliminate to make all the temperatures fit into
spring? (101)

How would that affect the mean temperature? (Eliminating the highest value
would lower the mean temperature. 503 9 = 55.9)

10. Pass out the Understanding Mean Activity Sheet and organize the class into groups of
four or more to complete the activity.
11. Continue the Whateverville saga with Further Questioning.
12. Distribute the Independent Practice Sheet, showing daily temperatures in other cities, and
have students complete independently.
ASSESSMENT

To check for understanding, have the students answer the Assessment Questions.

Students should be able to:


o

define median, mode, range, and mean and the steps or operations needed to
find them.

successfully order data from least to greatest.

identify the mode, if any, and calculate the range from any ordered data set.

Find the median of both even and odd sets of data.

solve for the mean, a more complex operation that may require more practice.
The additional group activity Understanding Mean should facilitate a fuller
comprehension of mean and lead students in the process of estimating how the
mean value will change as the values change in the data set.

EXTENSION ACTIVITIES

Propose this situation to the class.


Jamel is new to Whateverville and decides to open an ice cream shop because
temperatures are still extremely warm. To get a sense of his competition, he rates the ice
cream at local establishments on five features: color, taste, texture, cone, and price. He
uses a scale from 1.0 for poor to 5.0 for delicious. The only decimal part he uses is 0.5.
The table shows the results.

Print out the Extension Questions for each student or ask them as part of a class
discussion.

The problems in Whateverville go on.


Residents spent the summer in their winter coats, hats, gloves, and scarves - anything to
keep warm. The temperature didn't rise above 0. Now mayoral elections are coming to
Whateverville, and the residents are highly opinionated. Mayor Wallop will be running
against Ms. Hopper, who vows to destroy the weather machine once and for all should
she be elected. As the election draws near, Mayor Wallop blesses the region with the
most delightful weather. Take a look at the double-bar graph and compare Mayor
Wallop's popularity in July to his popularity in October. In Whateverville, everyone over
the age of 10 is allowed to vote.

Display the overhead transparency of Mayor Wallop's Popularity Graph.

Project the double-bar graph for all students to see and ask questions such as these:
o

What does the percentage on the left side of the graph represent? (the
percentage of people who approve of his policies)

What does the bottom part of the graph tell us? (the age groups of the voters)

How has Mayor Wallop's popularity changed from July to October? (His
popularity
has risen dramatically.) Can you think of any reason for this? (He's making the
weather nice before the election.)

In which age group was Mayor Wallop most popular in October? (70+).

In which age group was Mayor Wallop most popular in July? (25-40).

What percentage of people ages 25-40 approve of Mayor Wallop's policies in


October? (42%).

According to this graph, is Mayor Wallop likely to win the election? (yes)

Could conditions change before November? (yes)

Is Mayor Wallop to be trusted? (Answers will vary.)

Hand out Mean Homework to each student. Have students complete at home. You may
want to discuss the answers as part of a class discussion.

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