Lesson Plan

Saga of Survival (Using Data about Donner Party to Illustrate Descriptive Statistics)

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This Saga of Survival (Using Data about Donner Party to Illustrate Descriptive Statistics) lesson plan also includes:

What did gender have to do with the survival rates of the Donner Party? Using comparative box plots, classes compare the ages of the survivors and nonsurvivors. Using the same method, individuals make conclusions about the gender and likelihood of survival. 

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CCSS: Designed
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Instructional Ideas
  • After creating the boxplots using technology, have learners sketch them on their papers and label the five-number summary
  • Connect the activity between math and social studies classes
Classroom Considerations
  • Activity requires a graphing calculator
  • Learners should be proficient with creating boxplots and understand their interpretation
  • The morbid topic of death and survival may be difficult for some class members
Pros
  • Data shows a trend in one direction but also allows for discussion
  • Provides a teacher guide with detailed solutions and lesson guidance
Cons
  • None