Quiz on Distributions and the Empirical Rule

Objective

SWBAT demonstrate their ability to describe a one-variable distribution and use the Empirical Rule to predict population percentages from appropriate distributions.

Big Idea

This quiz is an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of one-variable distributions and the Empirical Rule.

Lesson Author

Colleen Werner

Ipswich, MA

Grade Level

Eleventh grade

Subjects

Math

univariate data

Statistics

Standards

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.*

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).*

HSS-ID.A.4

Use the mean and standard deviation of a data set to fit it to a normal distribution and to estimate population percentages. Recognize that there are data sets for which such a procedure is not appropriate. Use calculators, spreadsheets, and tables to estimate areas under the normal curve.*

MP1

Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

MP4

Model with mathematics.

MP5

Use appropriate tools strategically.

Quiz

50 minutes

Students will use the majority of this class period to demonstrate their understanding of one-variable distributions and the normal model on Univariate Statistics Quiz. This quiz asks students to describe the shape, center and spread of various distributions, calculate the standard deviation of a data set, and use the Empirical Rule [MP4, MP5].

Poster Scavenger Hunt

30 minutes

Helping Students Look Critically at Each Others' Work

When all students have completed the quiz, I ask them to examine the posters made by their classmates two classes ago. I will have graded these posters and put them on the bulletin board before this class period. As they look at the posters, I ask each student to fill out Poster Scavenger Hunt, to keep them looking closely at the work of their peers.

The point of this activity is to honor the work completed by groups in an earlier class and reinforce the idea that not all distributions are appropriately modeled with the normal model [MP4]. Today, it also gives students the opportunity to move around quietly after the quiz.

Previous Lesson

Next Lesson