Notes, Practice Problem
and Task Cards
Created by Common Core Carrie
This product includes a page of notes that students
can use to create their stem and leaf plots. The
notes include step by step instructions that can be
referenced as students study stem and leaf plots.
Students can glue the notes directly into their
notebooks.
In addition to the notes, there is a guided practice
problem on a back to back stem and leaf plot that
can be glued into the notebook as well.
Included with the notes and practice problem, there
is a station activity with 24 task cards about stem
and leaf plots. Students are asked to create stem
and leaf plots, calculate the measures of central
tendency and to identify the sample size. Some
questions are open ended asking students to
analyze the data and to make some conclusions.
Students are asked to identify outliers and to
describe what would happen to the measures of
central tendency if the outlier was removed. The
last four cards ask students to create their own
stem and leaf plot, determine the measures of
central tendency, determine which measure best
describes the data and to list other possible
displays for the data. An answer document is
provided for students to record their answers.
Directions: Cut along the dotted lines and glue the stem and leaf plot
notes in your notebook.
Stem and Leaf Plot
A stem and leaf plot (also known as stem plot) displays data that shows the distribution of
values in a data set. A stem and leaf plot allows you to see individual values in a data set.
Stem
Leaves
0
5
1
2
3
2
4
4
3
0
0
4
6
8
5
9
6
1
3
5
7
0
1
1
5
Key
5
6 5
means 65
4
7
7
Creating a Stem and Leaf Plot
To make a stem and leaf plot, examine all of your data values. The ones digits will make
up your leaves. The stem will contain your tens digits or possibly something larger.
Step 1: Write a vertical list of the tens digits (or larger) in order from least to greatest.
Draw a line to the right of these numbers. All of these numbers will be the stem.
Step 2: The leaves will represent all of your ones digits. Next to the appropriate stem
value, write the ones digit. For example, if your value was 65. The stem will have the
number 6 and your leaf will have the number 5.
Step 3: After you have completed listing all of the leaves, rewrite the stem and leaf plot
listing all of the ones digits in order from least to greatest.
Step 4: Create a key for your stem and leaf plot. If you had the following values in the
stem and leaf plot above, a possible key would be 6 5 = 65
Note: If you had values such as 99, 120, 150, 163, 114, 139, your stem would include 9, 10, 11,
12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and so on.
The numbers listed in the stem and leaf plot are grouped in intervals. If you look at the
stem plot above, numbers are listed 0-9, 10-19, 20-29, 30-39, etc.
Directions: Cut along the dotted lines and glue the practice problem in
your notebook.
Stem and Leaf Plot Practice
Listed below, are the mile times (in seconds) for the top ten 7th
grade girls and boys at Franklin Middle School. Create a back to
back stem and leaf plot of the data.
Girls
417, 417, 401, 403, 404, 397, 409
357, 360, 366
Girls
Boys
356, 361, 383, 362, 366,
370, 371, 377, 380, 381
7th Grade Students Mile Times
Boys
Key
means
Determine and calculate all of the measures of central
tendency for this data.
Girls
Mean:
Median:
Mode:
Boys
Mean:
Median:
Mode:
Directions: Cut along the dotted lines and glue the practice problem in
your notebook.
Stem and Leaf Plot Practice – Answer Key
Listed below, are the mile times (in seconds) for the top ten 7th
grade girls and boys at Franklin Middle School. Create a back to
back stem and leaf plot of the data.
Boys
356, 361, 383, 362, 366,
370, 371, 377, 380, 381
Girls
417, 417, 401, 403, 404, 397, 409
357, 360, 366
7th Grade Students Mile Times
Girls
Boys
7
35
6
6
9
4
Possible Key
35
0
36
1
2
6
37
0
1
7
38
0
1
3
7
39
3
1
40
7
7
41
42
7
means 357 seconds
43
Determine and calculate all of the measures of central
tendency for this data.
Girls
Mean:
393.1
Median: 402
Mode: 417
Boys
Mean:
370.7
Median: 370.5
Mode:
No Mode
Stem and Leaf Plot
1.) Create a stem and
leaf plot given the
following values.
17, 25, 34, 9, 5,
41, 33, 51, 71, 4,
11, 1, 76, 65, 60,
30, 33, 17, 58, 6
Stem and Leaf Plot
3.) If these values
were obtained from
a survey, how many
people
participated?
Stem and Leaf Plot
2.) Determine and
calculate all of the
measures of central
tendency for this
data.
Mean:
Median:
Mode:
Range:
Stem and Leaf Plot
4.) On the stem and
leaf plot, what does
the stem
represent?
What do the leaves
represent?
Stem and Leaf Plot
Stem and Leaf Plot
5.) Your classmate was
6.) Discuss and explain
absent. Explain
how you would
calculate the mean
of data displayed on
a stem and leaf
plot.
Stem and Leaf Plot
7.)
What is the purpose
of a stem and leaf
plot?
What other data
displays are similar
to a stem and leaf
plot?
an outlier.
What does an
outlier do to a set of
data?
Stem and Leaf Plot
8.) Another one of your
classmates was
absent. Explain
how you would
calculate the range
and median of data
displayed on a stem
and leaf plot.
Stem and Leaf Plot
9.) Mr. Fibonacci’s Quiz Scores
0
How many students
took the quiz?
1
2
10.) How many students
scored 70 or
above?
Key
3
4
Stem and Leaf Plot
8 5
2
means 85% quiz score
5
6
3
5
7
7
3
3
5
7
9
8
0
3
5
7
8
9
0
0
0
1
5
10
0
Stem and Leaf Plot
11.) Were there any
outliers in the set of
data?
What are some
possible reasons
for the outlier?
Stem and Leaf Plot
12.) What is the mean
and median of the
data?
If you remove the
outlier, what is the
mean and median?
Stem and Leaf Plot
13.)
Magazines Sold Per Student
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
5
8
9
2
0
2
5
8
9
3
0
3
3
4
2
3
5
5
0
1
1
6
1
3
4
5
7
0
5
8
1
9
0
2
2
4
10
1
5
Key
5 0
means 50
magazines sold
Stem and Leaf Plot
15.) Determine and
Stem and Leaf Plot
13.) How many students were
asked to sell magazines?
14.) What is the interval of
possible magazines sold for the
5 stem?
What is the interval of possible
magazines sold for the 0 stem?
Stem and Leaf Plot
16.) As you look at this
calculate all of the
measures of central
tendency for this
data.
data, what
conclusions can you
make about the
results?
Mean:
Median:
Mode:
Range:
Write two
statements about
the data.
Stem and Leaf Plot
Stem and Leaf Plot
Travel Times to School (minutes)
Class A
5
Key
2 5
Class B
0
2
5
5
7
9
1
0
0
1
3
5
1
1
2
7
7
5
2
0
8
5
0
3
0
5
5
5
4
5
1
0
5
3
0
6
7
means 25 minutes to school
Stem and Leaf Plot
19.) Which measure of
central tendency
would best describe
the data?
17. and 18.)
Determine and
calculate all of the
measures of central
tendency for
Class A and Class B.
Mean:
Median:
Mode:
Range:
Stem and Leaf Plot
20.) What can you
conclude about the
data provided for
Class A and Class
B?
Stem and Leaf Plot
21.) Create your own
real-world data for
a stem and leaf
plot.
Think of some data in
your own life. Use 10-20
pieces of data to make
a stem and leaf
plot.
Stem and Leaf Plot
23.) Which measure of
central tendency
would best describe
the data?
Stem and Leaf Plot
22.) Determine and
calculate all of the
measures of central
tendency for this
data.
Mean:
Median:
Mode:
Range:
Stem and Leaf Plot
24.) What are some
other ways you
could display this
data?
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Copyright © 2015 Carrie Clausing, Common Core Carrie
This resource was created by Carrie Clausing and must be used by the original purchaser for his/her
classroom. All rights reserved. It may be printed or photocopied but may not be reproduced, sold,
transmitted, or put on the internet without written permission from the author. Additional licenses are
available at a discounted price.
Credits:
Font, Frame and Background provided by Lovin Lit
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Lovin-Lit
Clover provided by http://www.mycutegraphics.com
Doodle Font 2 provided by https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Fun
Trees provided by https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Libraryfox
Stem and Leaf Plot
Station Activity
Name:
Hour:
Directions: Read each task card and record your answers in the boxes below.
1.)
2.)
3.)
4.)
Mean:
Median:
Mode:
Range:
5.)
6.)
7.)
8.)
9.)
10.)
11.)
12.)
13.)
14.)
15.) Magazines Sold
16.)
Mean:
Median:
Mode:
Range:
17.)
Class A
Mean:
Median:
Mode:
Range:
21.)
18.)
Class B
19.)
20.)
23.)
24.)
Mean:
Median:
Mode:
Range:
22.)
Evaluate yourself! How well do you understand stem and leaf plots?
Stem and Leaf Plot
Station Activity
1.)
Name:
Hour:
KEY
2.)
3.)
Mean: 32.35
Median: 31.5
Mode: 17 and 33
Range: 76 -1 = 75
A total of 20 people
participated.
5.) In order to
calculate the mean,
add up all of the
numbers and divide
by the total.
6.) An outlier is one
or more values that
lie outside of the set
of data. An outlier
can skew the data.
7.) A stem and leaf plot
8.) The range is the lowest
is a way to display the
shape of the data as well
as provide the actual
numerical values. Other
display: Histogram
to highest values in a data
set. The range can also be
computed by finding the
difference of the two. The
median is the middle value
in an ordered set of data.
9.) A total of 20
students took the
quiz.
10.) The number of
students that scored
70% and above is 16.
11.)
12.)
0
1
4
5
1
1
7
7
2
5
3
0
3
3
4
1
5
1
8
6
0
5
7
1
6
6
4
9
4.) The leaves
represent the ones
digit of the
numbers. The stem
can represent the
tens digit or higher.
8
9
Yes, one student scored a
42 on the quiz. Possible
reasons for this might include
the student had a bad day, one
problem through off the quiz,
the student did not understand
the material, the student had
been absent, etc.
Mean = 79.65
Median = 81.5
After removing the outlier (42)
Mean ≈ 81.63
Median = 83
13.) A total of 35
students were asked
to sell magazines.
14.) The interval is
15.) Magazines Sold
50-59 for the 5 stem.
Mean: ≈ 46
The interval is 0-9
Median: 43
for the 0 stem.
Mode: 0
Range: 0 - 105
16.) Possible answers:
17.)
18.)
19.) Answers will vary:
20.) Possible answers: The
data has very different
travel times to school.
Perhaps, one class is located
in a rural area and one is
located in the City. Some
students might have long bus
rides while other students
walk to school.
24.)
Class A
Class B
Mean: 43.4
Median: 45
Mode: 45
Range: 25 – 63 or 38
Mean: 13.4
Median: 11
Mode: 5, 10 and 21
Range: 2 – 30 or 28
There are no major outliers
with either class. The
mean seems to be a good
measure for each class. In
class A, the mean, median
and mode are all pretty
close to each other.
21.)
22.)
23.)
Student created
problems – answers
will vary.
Student created
problems – answers
will vary.
Student created
problems – answers
will vary.
Evaluate yourself! How well do you understand stem and leaf plots?
Of the 35 students asked
to sell magazines, 32 sold
at least one magazine. Nine
students sold more than 70
magazines.. The mean
amount of magazines sold
was approximately 46.
Student created
problems – answers
will vary.