Statistical Questions
C2.0 Mathematics 6 Parent Resource
Marking Period 4: Geometric and Statistical Relationships
Marking Period 4 includes 5 topics of study, listed below. This resource is for Topic 4.
Topic 1, Section 1
Topic 1, Section 2
Topic 2
Understanding
Area and Volume:
Area
Understanding
Area and
Volume: Volume
Surface
Area
Topic 3
Multi-Digit
Computation
(dividing whole numbers
and decimals operations)
Topic 4
Topic 5
Statistical
Questions
Analyzing Data
Distributions
Learning Goals by Common Core State Standard
Topic
Statistical Questions
Students will be able to...


Recognize a statistical question as one that anticipates variability in the data related to the
question and accounts for it in the answers.
Understand that a set of data collected to answer a statistical question can be described by its
center, spread and overall shape.
Instructional videos in the hyperlinks above are meant to support C2.0 content, but may use
vocabulary or strategies not emphasized by MCPS.
The Common Core State Standards require a balance of three fundamental
components that result in rigorous mathematics acquisition: deep conceptual
understanding, procedural skill, and mathematical applications and modeling.
RIGOR
Statistical Questions
Deep
Conceptual
Understanding
Applications
and Modeling
Procedural
Skill
Students will use
knowledge of data
distribution to
describe its
center, shape, and
spread.
Students will build
accuracy when
recognizing whether
or not a question is
statistical.
Students will
characterize
questions as
statistical
or non-statistical.
C2.0 Mathematics 6 Parent Resource
Marking Period 4: Number Relationships
Topic 4: Statistical Questions
Learning Experiences by Common Core State Standard
In school, your child will…

Identify the attributes of and create statistical questions.
Topic 4: Statistical Questions
o

A statistical question anticipates variability in the
response and can be answered by collecting data.
Example:
"How many minutes do 6th grade students typically
spend watching TV each week?" Yes, it is a statistical
question.
Non-Example:
“How much time do you spend watching TV each
week?” No, it is a statistical question.

At home, your child can…
Describe sets of data based on its center, shape, and
spread.
Look at USA Today Snapshots® and try to identify the statistical question
which may have been asked to generate the data display.
o

Note: USA Today graphs are not always examples of good data
displays. This activity is about generating good statistical
questions, not data displays.
Describe graphs from the newspaper or magazines.
o
What is the shape of the data distribution?

Is the data symmetrical or asymmetrical?

Is it skewed left or right?
o
Describe the spread of the data.
o
Is there one cluster of data points or is the data concentrated in
multiple places?
Additional Practice
 Statistical Questions (practice)
Additional Practice links support C2.0 content, but may use vocabulary or
strategies not emphasized by MCPS.
Note: While specific vocabulary terms are introduced, the
focus is not on vocabulary acquisition.