Range, Mean, Median, and Mode
through the Internet 

Designed by:   Caren L. Hazelwood, Hand Middle School

GRADE LEVEL: 8th       SUBJECT(S):  Math  

1)CORE CURRICULUM OBJECTIVE(S):  Identify and calculate range, mean, median, and mode from data.   (8-SP1-7)   (6SP1-7)   [PACT VI.C.1]

RESTATEMENT:  Students will calculate range, mean, median, and mode from a set of data from the Internet.

2) OVERVIEW:  As a culminating activity, students, using the Internet as a data-gathering source, will calculate the range, mean, median, and mode from a set of numbers.

3) FOCUS/ESSENTIAL QUESTION(S):  How can a set of numbers be used to determine range, mean, median, and mode?

4) TIME FRAME:  Three 45 - 50 minute periods - one period for information gathering

- one period for processing and publishing

- one period for presentation

5) RESOURCES:

* Gateways to Algebra (p. 221-227), for reference

* Glencoe Course 3 (p. 145-154), for reference

* Data-gathering sheet & rubric

* Computers with Internet access

* Internet sites 

www.espn.go.com     

http://finance.yahoo.com/     www.go.com/

* Paper/pencil

* Supplies for publication - construction paper, white copy paper, markers, etc.

* If computers are not available, utilize the newspapers.   Students could even bring in baseball trading cards or other cards that contain a set of numbers to compute.

6) ASSESSMENT:  Students will determine the range, mean, median, and mode of a gathered set of data, and a rubric follows the lesson.  Students could assist in developing a new weighting system for the rubric if desired.

7) INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES:

* Students will be using the Internet to collect data for computing range, mean, median, and mode. 

* Divide students into pairs by either counting by 1-2, self-selecting partners, or having the teacher pre-select partners.  (Students may work individually if computers are available for all students.  If working individually, time for presentations may need to be adjusted.)

* The Internet can provide sites that contain tables and sets of data.  The site - www.espn.go.com - provides standings/rankings/win-losses for NBA, baseball, NHL, soccer, golf, tennis, NASCAR, and extreme sports.  Currency exchange rates can be located at http://finance.yahoo.com/ through World Markets, currency.  Price listings for clothes, accessories, and jewelry can be located at www.go.com/ through centers, shopping. 

ACTIVITY ONE

* The teacher will provide a copy of the data-gathering sheet to all students.  Students will review the process of computing range, mean, median, and mode.  Definitions are to be recorded on the data sheet.

Range - the difference between the greatest and least numbers in a set of data.  Knowing the range can help decide whether the differences among data are important.

Mean - an average.  It is found by adding all the values in a set and dividing by the number of values.

Median - another type of average.  It is the number that falls exactly in the middle of a set of data when the data is arranged in order from least to greatest. (With an even set of data, find the mean of the two numbers.)

Mode - the number that appears most frequently in a set of numbers.  There may be one, more than one, or no mode.

* The activity sheets list various sites for collecting data. As with newspaper research, you may want to allow students to preview the site for a limited amount of time to see what it has to offer.  After previewing the site, students will gather data for their computations. 

* Students are to record the site address, a description, and the data set of at least eight numbers. All information is recorded on the data-gathering sheet.  The teacher should monitor each student's success using the Internet and the gathering of data.

ACTIVITY TWO

* Students will compute the range, mean, median, and mode of the data based on the notes and definitions recorded at the top of the data-gathering sheet. The textbook can be used as a resource.  After computing range, mean, median, and mode, students will switch data with others to verify responses.

* Students will publish their data and results in a creative manner using art supplies provided by the teacher or brought from home.  (This can be done in class or assigned as homework.)

ACTIVITY THREE

* Students will present their site location, data, and results to the class.  The final product will be displayed in the hall.  If it can be coordinated, students will present their work to the 6th or 7th grade classes as they also study range, mean, median, and mode.  NOTE:  The presentation component can be included on the rubric as a graded component, or it can be left off.

Name____________________________ Date____________  Per.____

DATA GATHERING SHEET FOR RANGE,
MEAN, MEDIAN, AND MODE  

Internet sites you may want to visit: - www.espn.go.com - provides standings/ rankings/win-losses for NBA, baseball, NHL, soccer, golf, tennis, NASCAR, and extreme sports. Price listings for clothes, accessories, and jewelry can be located at www.go.com/ through centers, shopping.  Currency exchange rates can be located at http://finance.yahoo.com through World Markets, currency.  Data set must be 8 or more items.  

Site Address You Used: http://______________________________

Describe site and data (i.e. ranking, prices, etc.)_________________

Data (8):__________________________________________ ________

__________________________________________________  

Show your calculations:  

 Name___________________________  Date_________  Per._________

RANGE, MEAN, MEDIAN, AND MODE THROUGH THE INTERNET

GRADING RUBRIC