Connecting Box Plots and Histograms

Extention/scaffolds: Students are asked to explain their ideas and thoughts during the investigation portion of this lesson.  Due to the constructivist nature of the activity, no scaffolds are in place up front.  Some students may need addtional support during the lesson.  Also, the extention is built into the activity due to the fact that students will make more sophisticated observations.

Phase 1: Students will work with their partner to pair the histogram, box plot and verbal description.  I do not give students any other information other than the task at hand, I want them to construct the meaning of why the different cards go together.  (Note, each card has a number, letter, or symbol to make checking the matches quick for the teacher.)

Phase 2: Students work in pairs to write a complete description of why they made the matches that they did.  In their description they should make specific references to the distribution of the data including the quartiles and median and how they are graphically displayed in the histogram.  

Teaching point: It is important that students reference the specific number of students in each interval as well as noting the percentages of the class 25%, 50%, 75%, etc.  This will help to deepen the connection that box plots represent the data being broken into 4 sections with an equal amount of data in each.  When the intervals on the box plot are small it means that there are many data points in a smaller interval (spread of data).  This lesson is also a good time to discuss the idea of "skew" of data due to the fact that it can be easily seen in the histograms and box plots when they are put side by side.

slide 3: Students will analyze this box plot and write a verbal description about the monthly spending of the students.  Students should apply what they have just learned from the investigation regarding the distribution of the data.