Lesson 3: Measures of Central Tendency & Spread

• What is the mean? How do we find it?
• What is the median? How do we find it?
• What is the mode?
• What do range and IQR tell us about spread?
• When do we use each measure?

Mean, median, mode, range, interquartile range (IQR), spread, quartile, central tendency

CCSS.MATH.6.SP.B.5, CCSS.MATH.6.SP.C.5

Description: Students calculate measures of central tendency (mean = average, median = middle value, mode = most frequent value) and measures of spread (range = difference between highest and lowest, IQR = difference between 3rd and 1st quartiles). They interpret what these measures tell us about the data. Purpose: To develop understanding of how to summarize and describe data. DOK Level: 2-3 (Application)

• Start with median and mode: Easier to understand than mean
• For struggling learners: Calculate measures for small datasets; use calculators
• For advanced learners: Compare measures for different datasets; discuss outliers
• Step-by-step guides: Provide calculation steps visually

• Observation: Can students calculate measures correctly?

• Worksheet: Calculate mean, median, mode, range for 3 datasets

• Comparison task: Compare measures from different datasets

• Interpretation: Explain what each measure tells us

• Calculation step-by-step guides

• Practice worksheets

• Sample datasets

• Anchor chart for definitions and formulas

• Resource: Khan Academy "Measures of Central Tendency & Spread" (adapted)