Unit 10: Statistics
Lessons
Focus Standards
Learning Focus
Additional Resources
Lesson 1: What is Normal?
A Develop Understanding Task
Introduces normal distribution and builds understanding of its key features. Introduces the 68-95-99.7% rule.
Understand features of a normal distribution.
Identify the effect of changing the mean or standard deviation in a normal distribution.
What is a “normal” distribution? How are normal distributions related to bell curves?
Lesson 2: Just Act Normal
A Solidify Understanding Task
Solidifies understanding of normal distribution and of the 68-95-99.7% rule by using them to make decisions in a real-world context.
Interpret standardized test scores that are distributed normally.
How can understanding normal distributions help us interpret test scores and other real-life data?
Lesson 3: Y B Normal?
A Solidify Understanding Task
Builds on understanding of normal distributions to understand the standard normal distribution. Introduces the z -score formula and z -scores as a means of comparison.
Understand a scale used to compare normal distributions.
Sketch distribution curves and use tables to find population percentages.
How can we compare normal distributions that have different means and standard deviations?
Lesson 4: Wow, That's Weird!
A Practice Understanding Task
Provides practice with comparing normal distributions, sometimes using z -scores. Deepens understanding of mean and standard deviation.
Compare normal distributions.
What methods can we find for using mean and standard deviation to compare normal distributions?
How can we decide if an event that seems weird is actually unusual or fairly likely?
A Develop Understanding Task
Defines population, sample, and parameter of interest. Develops understanding of different methods of sampling using a sorting activity to identify differences between the methods.
Understand methods for taking samples from a population.
What is a random sample?
Without asking everyone the questions, how can you be sure that a survey represents the opinions of an entire population?
Lesson 6: Let's Investigate
A Solidify Understanding Task
Identifies surveys, observational studies, and experiments as methods for measuring the parameter of interest. Deepens understanding of these methods by comparing their strengths and weaknesses.
Describe the difference between a survey, an experiment, and an observational study.
Design an investigation for a parameter of interest using appropriate study and sampling methods.
How can we determine if there is a cause-and-effect relationship between variables?
What features can we look for to help determine if study results are valid?
Lesson 7: Ancient Treasures
A Solidify Understanding Task
Introduces students to the difference between population parameters and sample statistics. Develops ideas of the Central Limit Theorem for population means and proportions by taking random samples of varying sizes and observing the effect on the distribution.
Use random sampling methods and find means and proportions for random samples.
How do researchers find averages and percentages for a population when they can’t measure the entire population?
Lesson 8: Sim City
A Solidify Understanding Task
Uses simulation to develop the concepts of margin of error and plausible interval for sample proportions.
Find an interval that is likely to contain the population proportion from a sample.
How do we know that we found the actual population proportion in a sample distribution?
Lesson 9: Meaningful Possibilities
A Solidify Understanding Task
Uses simulation and understanding of normal distribution to find margin of error and plausible interval for sample means.
Use simulation to find a plausible interval for the mean of a population from a sample.
How does finding an interval for a population mean compare to finding an interval for a population proportion?
Lesson 10: Music to My Ears
A Practice Understanding Task
Uses simulation to evaluate the results of an experiment to see if the results could be achieved by chance.
Determine if the results of an experiment could have occurred by chance.
If the averages between two experimental groups are different, is that enough to declare the experiment a success?
Lesson 11: So, You Say There's a Chance?
A Practice Understanding Task
Evaluates statistical claims from surveys and news reports using understanding of probability, simulation, margin of error and plausible intervals.
Use statistical reasoning to evaluate claims in the media.
How can we tell if the results of polls or other studies are being reported accurately?