Primary Type: Lesson Plan
Status: Published
This is a resource from CPALMS (www.cpalms.org) where all educators go for bright ideas!
Resource ID#: 71617
Dot Plots and Histograms
In this lesson students will be exploring numeric displays including dot plots and histogram. Please note that this lesson does not cover box plots
which is also part of this standard. Students will sort data into which type of display would be used between dot plots and histograms. Students will fill
in guided (skeleton) notes about both types of display. Then students will create a dot plot with stickers and a histogram with painters tape. These
hands on activities are used to solidify understanding of the qualities of each display. There is also independent practice and a performance task
assessment for students to complete to practice and show mastery of creating numeric displays (dot plots and histograms).
Subject(s): Mathematics
Grade Level(s): 6
Intended Audience: Educators
Suggested Technology: LCD Projector, GeoGebra
Free Software (Download the Free GeoGebra
Software)
Instructional Time: 1 Hour(s) 30 Minute(s)
Resource supports reading in content area: Yes
Freely Available: Yes
Keywords: dot plots, histograms
Resource Collection: FCR-STEMLearn Algebra
ATTACHMENTS
DPH Sort Activity.docx
DPH Dot Plot Activity.docx
DPH Guided Notes Outline.docx
DPH Guided Notes Partially Completed (Accomodation).docx
DPH Histogram Activity.docx
DPH Independent Practice.docx
DPH Learning Scale Student Version.docx
DPH Learning Scale Teacher Version.docx
DPH Lesson Plan Outline.docx
DPH Performance Task Assessment Key.docx
DPH Performance Task Assessment.docx
DPH Powerpoint.pptx
DPH PreAssessment Key.docx
DPH PreAssessment.docx
LESSON CONTENT
Lesson Plan Template: General Lesson Plan
Learning Objectives: What should students know and be able to do as a result of this lesson?
Students will be able to determine appropriate intervals to display data in dot plots and histograms.
Students will be able to create dot plots and histograms.
Prior Knowledge: What prior knowledge should students have for this lesson?
Students understand what makes a question a statistical question. (MAFS.6.SP.1.1)
page 1 of 3 Students understand that a set of data collected to answer a statistical question has a distribution which can be described by its center, spread, and overall shape.
(MAFS.6.SP.1.2)
Students can identify the type of numerical data display.
Dot plots
Histograms
Box plots
Students can explain how to create a line plot for a given set of data. (MAFS.5.MD.2.2)
Students are able to accurately choose the type of display, between dot plots and histograms, for a given set of data.
Guiding Questions: What are the guiding questions for this lesson?
How do I know which display to use to show a set of numeric data?
What are the differences and similarities between histograms and dot plots?
What is the purpose of displaying numeric data?
Teaching Phase: How will the teacher present the concept or skill to students?
PowerPoint with guided notes:
DP&H Powerpoint.pptx
DP&H Guided Notes Outline.docx
The lesson starts with a game in the PowerPoint "What am I" where the students are given three clues one at a time and have to guess what the teacher is
describing.
The PowerPoint includes slides that go over the learning goal and scale for this lesson.
After these slides the Guided notes part of the slideshow begins. There is a handout that goes along with the PowerPoint to guide the students in the note taking
process for this lesson.
There is a partially completed version available in attachments for students who need this accommodation. During the Teaching phase the teacher should use the
Powerpoint to guide students on the basics of what each display is, what it looks like and the steps to create it.
The students are expected to write down the characteristics of each display.
They are expected to draw a sample display and write down the steps it takes to create each type of display.
The students are expected to complete the guided notes during the teaching phase.
During this time the teacher should be walking around and ensuring that students are accurately completing the guided notes.
The teacher should check for understanding through asking questions and monitoring the students note taking.
It is important to make sure that all present students complete the notes for one display before starting the next to avoid confusion.
Guided Practice: What activities or exercises will the students complete with teacher guidance?
Sort Activity in table groups - students will be given a set of cards that have either a type of display or a characteristic of a display. They need to sort the cards into
two groups: dot plots and histograms to show they understand the characteristics of both displays.
DP&H Sort Activity.docx
Dot Plot Activity - Students will be given a set of data, white paper, a ruler and dot stickers. The students must take the data and create a dot plot using an accurate
scale and accurate labels. The students should be allowed to ask questions and discuss this process within their table groups, but will each create their own display.
Histogram Activity - Students will be given a set of data, white paper, a ruler and painters tape. The students must take the data and create a histogram using
accurate ranges and accurate labels. The students should be allowed to ask questions and discuss this process within their table groups, but will each create their
own display. The students may end up with displays that are greatly varied depending on what ranges they used. This will be a great discussion to have with the
class when the students are finished with their displays.
DP&H Dot Plot Activity.docx
DP&H Histogram Activity.docx
Independent Practice: What activities or exercises will students complete to reinforce the concepts and skills developed in the
lesson?
Independent practice page can be completed independently in class or as a practice at home assignment.
DP&H Independent Practice.docx
The Independent practice page requires students to identify which type of display would be best for a set of given data. The student must then create the display using
pencil and grid paper. The students will be practicing the steps to create a dot plot or a histogram. This practice helps reinforce the characteristics of each display and
the steps to create accurate displays.
Closure: How will the teacher assist students in organizing the knowledge gained in the lesson?
Reviewing the Learning Scale and showing where the student started and where they are going. At the end of this lesson students should be a solid 3 on the
learning scale and ready to move up to a 4 which is the next standard they need to master.
DP&H Learning Scale Teacher Version.docx
DP&H Learning Scale Student Version.docx
The teacher should provide the students with their pre-assessments, their guided practice (if collected), and their performance task.
The teacher should review how all of these are linked through statistical thinking, explaining/ reinforcing to the students that all of this starts with statistical
questioning and becomes data that we can display to make it easier to use. The teacher should explain that this is a small part of statistical thinking and that we use
statistics in everyday life.
Summative Assessment
Performance task assessment
DP&H Performance Task Assessment.docx
DP&H Performance Task Assessment Key.docx
The students will be able to create a dot plot and histogram given a data set. The students will be asked to identify the type of display they would make and why it
is the best choice. The students will then create a dot plot and a histogram using pencil and grid paper. They are expected to use appropriate labels and scales in
their displays.
Formative Assessment
page 2 of 3 Pre-Assessment - includes what is a statistical questions, identifying a dot plot and a histogram, and creating a line plot.
Learning Scale - included to be used with students for them to assess where they are within the lesson.
Teacher questioning to be used throughout teaching phase and guided practice - some questions included in PowerPoint.
Feedback to Students
Students will have groups to discuss activities with as well as teacher circulating and asking/answering questions.
Students will talk about what type of display they think they would use for each kind of data and they will clarify the traits of each display with each other so they
can create accurate displays.
Students will talk about what scale would make the most sense when constructing a histogram. They will use this discussion to decide what will work best for them
when they construct histograms on their own.
ACCOMMODATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
Accommodations:
Giving students a partially complete outline for the guided notes with images included instead of asking them to draw.
DP&H Guided Notes Partially Completed (Accomodation).docx
Extensions:
Have students who are ahead analyze their displays and find the measures of center.
Have students continue with the information using GeoGebra.
Students who are are quick to understand the lesson may be able to figure out how to complete these displays through Excel or GeoGebra.
Suggested Technology: LCD Projector, GeoGebra Free Software
Special Materials Needed:
Computer paper
Dot stickers
Painters tape
Additional Information/Instructions
By Author/Submitter
MAFS.K12.MP.4 - Model with mathematics
MAFS.K12.MP.6 - Attend to Precision
SOURCE AND ACCESS INFORMATION
Contributed by: Michelle True
Name of Author/Source: Michelle True
District/Organization of Contributor(s): Orange
Is this Resource freely Available? Yes
Access Privileges: Public
License: CPALMS License - no distribution - non commercial
Related Standards
Name
MAFS.6.SP.2.4:
Description
Display numerical data in plots on a number line, including dot plots, histograms, and box plots.
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