Mean, Median, Mode and Range

"Why do we have to learn this?" is a common question I get when it's time to teach students how to find the mean, median, mode, and range. That question is sometimes difficult to answer.  "You have to learn this because you'll be tested on it during the standardized tests this spring," is a reply that is tempting to give!  Luckily, you can answer, "You get to learn this because it is really cool!" While it's true that statistics isn't the most "glamorous" strand of math, it is an important strand because your students will be exposed to higher levels of statistics as they make their way through junior and senior high school, and it's an important life skill as well. Knowing how to calculate mean, median, mode and range is one of the most basic things embedded in statistics, and there are many ways to make learning this topic enjoyable for students.

After introducing the concept, I write down a set of numbers on the board, such as 10, 0, 7, 24, 7, 34, 2.  Underneath the numbers, I write: 

  Mean=                   Mode=

  Median=                 Range=

 

 

Next, I ask students to rearrange the numbers in ascending order. The set of numbers now reads, 0, 2, 7, 7, 10, 24, 34. I point out that three of the four calculations are incredibly simple. The mode is the number that appears the most in the set. The median is the number that is, physically, right in the middle of the set. To find the Range, you have to subtract the smallest number in the set from the largest number in the set.  Finally, the  mean (which is a synonym for "average") requires students to add up all of the numbers, then divide the answer by how many numbers are in the set.  I like to do the two easiest operations first, which are finding the mode and median. Once all of the calculations have been completed, students have been exposed to how to find mean, median, mode, and range.

Once the students have been exposed to the basics of mean, median, mode, and range, you can get started on the lessons below.  Since this concept is an upper elementary topic, the following lessons are all designed for upper elementary and middle school students.

Mean, Median, Mode and Range Lesson Plans:

Statistics: Mean, Median, Mode, and Range

Students calculate the mean, median, mode and range of a set of data which reflects the height of each student in the class. This meaningful lesson will be especially fun for middle school students, whose heights are so different!  Students work in groups of three or four, and report their findings to the entire class.

Using Mean, Median, Mode, and Range through Basketball

Students access box scores in the sports section of the newspaper to calculate the mean, median, mode and range of the scores reported in five NBA basketball games. This fun lesson shows how sporting events are filled with all kinds of statistics.

Under the Weather

Students use the weather page in the newspaper to calculate the mean, median, mode and range of a set of temperatures found around their state. This lesson also includes website links and some excellent PDF files which can be used for homework, and graphing their results.

Let's Buy a Car!

Students use the Internet to research how to purchase and pay for a used car. They use the prices to calculate mean, median and mode.  This lesson will be especially motivating for older students who may be looking to purchase a car.  I love the "real world" aspects of this lesson - it shows students that we really do use the things we learn in math class.

Discussion Question:

What activities do you use to kick off a mean, median, mode, and range unit?