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Histograms Guided Notes w/ Doodles | Numerical Data | Data & Statistics Sketch
$4.25
Overview
Ever wondered how to teach histograms in an engaging way to your sixth-grade students?
In this lesson plan, students will learn about histograms and their real-life applications. Through artistic, interactive guided notes, check for understanding, practice (a doodle & color by number activity, and a maze worksheet), students will gain a comprehensive understanding of creating and analyzing histograms.
The lesson culminates with a real-life example that explores how statistical questions can be used in real life. Students will see how histograms can be used to summarize and interpret numerical data sets in relation to their context.
- Standards: CCSS 6.SP.B.4, CCSS 6.SP.B.5
- Unit: 6th Grade → Unit 8: Data & Statistics
- Grade: 6th Grade
Get the Lesson Materials
Histograms Guided Notes w/ Doodles | Numerical Data | Data & Statistics Sketch
$4.25
Learning Objectives
After this lesson, students will be able to:
Define what a histogram is and describe its purpose in displaying numerical data
Construct histograms using given numerical data sets
Identify the vocabulary associated with histograms, including numerical data, continuous data, intervals/bins, etc.
Analyze and interpret data from histograms, including summarizing numerical data sets in relation to their context
Understand and explain the relevance of histograms in real-life applications of data and statistics
Prerequisites
Before this lesson, students should be familiar with:
graphing using x-axis and y-axis
Materials
Pencils
Colored pencils or markers
Key Vocabulary
Histograms
Numerical data
Continuous data
Intervals/bins
Frequency tables
Constructing histograms
Analyzing data from histograms
Context
Summarizing numerical data sets
Procedure
Introduction
As a hook, ask students why it is important to display numerical data in plots. This will engage students and activate their prior knowledge on the topic. Refer to the last page of the guided notes as well as the FAQs below for ideas.
Use the first page of the guided notes to introduce the concept of histograms. Explain to students what a histogram is and its purpose in displaying numerical data. Review the difference between categorical and numerical data, as well as when to use bar graphs and when to use histograms.
Use the second page of the guided notes to introduce the key points of constructing a histogram, including determining intervals or bins for the data and counting the frequency of each interval. Refer to the FAQ below for a walk through on this, as well as ideas on how to respond to common student questions.
If your class has a wide range of proficiency levels, you can pull out students for reteaching, and have more advanced students begin work on the practice exercises.
Practice
Have students practice creating and analyzing histograms using the practice page provided on pages 3 - 5 of the resource. Walk around the classroom to answer any questions that students may have.
Fast finishers of the "you try" practice sheet can then move on to the maze activity or doolde math activity for extra practice. Alternatively, you can also assign the maze activity or doodle math as homework for students who have not completed it during class time.
Real-Life Application
Bring the class back together, and introduce the concept of using histograms to analyze data in real-life situations. Explain that histograms are commonly used in various fields to understand and analyze numerical data.Use the last page of the guided notes resource to teach the real-life application of histograms.
In addition, you can start a discussion to help students connect the concept of histograms to areas such as:
Sales and Marketing: Show students examples of histograms used in analyzing sales data or customer preferences. Discuss how histograms can provide valuable insights for businesses to make decisions about product design, marketing strategies, or pricing.
Healthcare: Discuss how histograms are used in healthcare to analyze patient data, such as age distributions, blood pressure levels, or cholesterol levels. Explain how healthcare professionals can use histograms to identify patterns or trends in data and make informed decisions about patient care.
Social Sciences: Explore how histograms are used in social science research to represent and analyze data related to demographics, income distributions, crime rates, or educational attainment. Discuss how histograms can help researchers identify disparities or trends in the data and draw meaningful conclusions.
Environmental Science: Introduce the use of histograms in environmental science to analyze data related to climate change, pollution levels, or species populations. Explain how histograms can help scientists understand the distribution of data and identify any significant changes or patterns over time.
By discussing these real-life applications, students will gain a deeper understanding of how histograms can be used as a powerful tool for data analysis and decision-making in various fields. Encourage students to think of other areas where histograms may be used and to share their ideas with the class.
Extensions
Additional Self-Checking Digital Practice
If you're looking for digital practice for histograms, try my Pixel Art activities in Google Sheets. Every answer is automatically checked, and correct answers unlock parts of a mystery picture. It's incredibly fun, and a powerful tool for differentiation.
Here are some activities to explore:
Additional Print Practice
A fun, no-prep way to practice histograms is Doodle Math — they're a fresh take on color by number or color by code. It includes multiple levels of practice, perfect for a review day or sub plan.
Here are some activities to try:
FAQs
A histogram is a graphical representation of numerical data where the data is grouped into intervals or bins, and the height of each bar represents the frequency or count of data points within that interval.
To construct a histogram, you need to:
Determine the range of the data.
Divide the range into equal-sized intervals or bins.
Count the number of data points that fall into each bin.
Draw a bar for each bin, where the height of the bar represents the count of data points in that bin.
Numerical data refers to any data that can be measured or expressed in numbers. It includes quantities such as height, weight, temperature, and scores on a test.
Continuous data is a type of numerical data that can take on any value within a certain range. It can include decimals and fractions, and there are no gaps or interruptions in the data. Examples include the temperature at different times of the day or the heights of students in a class.
Intervals or bins in a histogram are the ranges in which the data is grouped. They are represented on the x-axis of the histogram and help organize the data into meaningful groups.
To analyze and interpret data from histograms, you can:
Look at the shape of the histogram to determine if it is symmetrical, skewed, or has other characteristics.
Identify the center of the data by locating the peak or highest point of the histogram.
Examine the spread or variability of the data by considering the width of the bars and the range of the data.
Draw conclusions based on patterns or trends in the histogram.
Histograms summarize numerical data sets by providing a visual representation of the distribution of the data. They show the frequencies or counts of data points within different intervals or bins, allowing you to see the overall pattern, shape, and characteristics of the data.
Sure! One example of how histograms can be used is in analyzing the heights of students in a classroom. By creating a histogram of the heights, you can see the distribution of heights, identify any patterns or outliers, and make comparisons between different groups within the data (e.g., boys vs. girls). This information can be helpful for understanding the average height, the range of heights, and any other characteristics of the students' heights.