Name:
Cut out the questions on the next page. Read each question, and decide if it is a statistical question or not. Sort
the questions into the correct category on the table below. When you are sure you have sorted them correctly,
glue or tape them in place. Be sure to write your justification for two cards in each category.
This question is statistical, because I would get a variety This question is non-statistical, because there is only
of responses, such as _________________,
one answer. The answer to this question is
_______________, and ___________________.
__________________.
This question is statistical, because I would get a variety This question is non-statistical, because there is only
of responses, such as _________________,
one answer. The answer to this question is
_______________, and ___________________.
__________________.
©J. Parke, 2015
Cut out these cards. Use the table on the other sheet of paper as you sort these cards into the correct
category.
How many runs did the Yankees score yesterday?
How many Presidents can each person in the class
name?
How many cousins does each of your classmates
have?
How many letters are in the name of this school?
Which student sold the most boxes of candy for
the fundraiser?
What age are the teachers in this school?
How many people in the room are wearing
shorts?
How tall are the students in this class?
What were the student scores for the science test?
How old is the Statue of Liberty?
How many students in your class ate breakfast this How many students brought cell phones to
morning?
school today?
How many calories did each student in your class
eat for dinner last night?
How many apps does each of your classmates
have on their phones?
How many hours did you exercise each day last
month?
How many snow days did we have this year?
How many touchdowns did your high school
football team score yesterday?
How many inches of rain did we get each day last
week?
©J. Parke, 2015
Name: KEY
Note: Your answers do not have to be listed in this exact order from top to bottom. However, they do need to
be listed in the same column as these answers are listed. Also, your justification may be different, based on
which questions you listed first and second.
This question is statistical, because I would get a variety
of responses, such as 9 apps,
19 apps, and 13 apps.
This question is non-statistical, because there is only
one answer. The answer to this question is 305 feet.
This question is statistical, because I would get a variety
of responses, such as 5’ 7”,
5’ 2”, and 5’ 5”.
This question is non-statistical, because there is only
one answer. The answer to this question is 3.
©J. Parke, 2015
Extension ideas:
Have students rewrite 2-3 of the non-statistical questions to transform them into statistical questions.
Have students actually collect data for one of the statistical questions.
Have students create dot plot or histogram based on the responses to one of these statistical questions.
Have students add one original statistical and one original non-statistical question to the bottom of the
lists.
Collect student data for a statistical question, such as “What are the shoe sizes of the students in this
class?” or “What are the heights of the students in this class?” by having students make tally marks in a
frequency table that you create on the board, or on chart paper. This will allow them to see the wide
range of varying responses.
©J. Parke, 2015