These lesson plans were developed in conjunction with the TLRI research project: Building students’ inferential reasoning: statistics curriculum levels 5 and 6.

While each series of activities are set up as lesson plans, they may take more or less than a lesson of class time. They form a possible sequence of learning and each block works together with the other blocks. The lessons are developed using CensusAtSchool (2009) data, they could be adapted to any data set or any year of CensusAtSchool.

Block 1: Introduction to the PPDAC cycle, posing investigative questions and writing descriptions for summary and comparison investigative questions.

Block 2: Introduction to sampling, drawing dot plots and box plots, writing descriptions from dot plots and box plots.

Block 3: Moving from box plots to making the call and writing conclusions.

Lesson 9: Using Fathom

Focus for lesson:
• Introduction to Fathom.
• Using Fathom to draw dot plots and box plots.
• Describing sample data.
Key Competencies:

Relating to Others:
Share ideas
Work in groups

Using Language, Symbols and Texts:
Explore different representations
Using ICT as appropriate
Communicate findings

Lesson 10: Multiple samples from one population – to making the call

Focus for lesson:
• Direction of the shift
• Consistency across samples

Key Competencies:
Thinking:
Dealing with uncertainty and variation
Exploring and using patterns and relationships in data
Make decisions
Hypothesise
Seek patterns and generalisations
Make connections

Using Language, Symbols and Texts:
Communicate findings
Interpret visual representations such as graphs, diagrams

Managing Self:
Seek understanding

Lesson 11: More multiple samples

Focus for lesson:
• Reinforcing the message using “movies”

Key Competencies:
Thinking:
Dealing with uncertainty and variation
Exploring and using patterns and relationships in data
Make decisions
Hypothesise
Seek patterns and generalisations
Make connections

Using Language, Symbols and Texts:
Communicate findings
Interpret visual representations such as graphs, diagrams

Managing Self:
Seek understanding

Lesson 12: Making a call

Focus for lesson:
• Using the ideas behind making a call to explore other questions.
Key Competencies:
Thinking:
Dealing with uncertainty and variation
Predicting / envisioning outcomes
Exploring and using patterns and relationships in data

Using Language, Symbols and Texts:
Using ICT as appropriate
Interpret visual representations such as graphs, diagrams

Managing Self:
Seek understanding
Reflect

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Level 5 Statistical Investigations Lesson Plans