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Data Variation and Outliers
6 Pre & Primary Essentials Worksheets Mathematics Statistics (Data) 12 Pages

Data Variation and Outliers

This pack includes six differentiated worksheets designed to help students understand data variation and outliers. Students analyse real-world data sets, identify outliers and explain their potential causes. Each worksheet includes step-by-step questions to guide students through identifying patterns, understanding variations and discussing the implications of their findings. Suitable for a variety of ability levels, this resource is ideal for fostering critical thinking and mathematical reasoning in the classroom.

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Learning goals

  • We are learning to interpret and compare the four types of data sets (ordinal, nominal, discrete, continuous) using comparative displays and determining the range, mode (frequency) and shape of data in graphs, dot plots and bar charts.
  • We are learning to interpret secondary data (data collected by others) represented in digital media, books, scientific papers etc. and identify potentially misleading data representations.
  • We are learning to pose questions, collect and interpret categorical or numerical data by observation or survey.
  • We are learning to interpret and compare data displays, including side-by-side column graphs, tables and diagrams for two categories (e.g. age, height) and compare the usefulness of each display for data interpretation.
  • We are learning to interpret secondary data (data collected by others) represented in digital media, books, scientific papers etc. and identify potentially misleading data representations.

Curriculum alignment

MA3-1WM old Describes and represents mathematical situations in a variety of ways using mathematical terminology and some conventions MA3-3WM old Gives a valid reason for supporting one possible solution over another MA3-18SP old Uses appropriate methods to collect data and constructs, interprets and evaluates data displays, including dot plots, line graphs and two-way tables MA3-DATA-01 new Constructs graphs using many-to-one scales MA3-DATA-02 new Interprets data displays, including timelines and line graphs
VCMSP235 Construct, interpret and compare a range of data displays, including side-by-side column graphs for two categorical variables VCMSP237 Pose and refine questions to collect categorical or numerical data by observation or survey VCMSP236 Interpret secondary data presented in digital media and elsewhere

Australian Curriculum covers QLD / SA / WA / NT / TAS / ACT.

Differentiation

Modifications

• Provide guiding hints or examples for students needing additional support.
• Allow students to work in pairs to foster collaboration and shared understanding.
• Offer simpler questions for students focusing on basic identification rather than detailed analysis.

Extensions

• Ask students to create their own data sets and include intentional outliers for peers to identify and analyse.
• Challenge advanced learners to calculate the effect of removing an outlier on the mean and median of the data.

Teach it your way

Finding related resources…

Linked resources & worksheets

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