Alabama Social Studies SS24.CWI.3a

Social StudiesGrades 9–12Media Literacy

The Standard

SS24.CWI.3: Explain how public opinion polling is implemented, and describe how polling methods can produce intentional and unintentional bias and flawed samplings.

Interpret statistics included in current news stores related to political, social, and economic issues.

2024 Alabama Course of Study: Social Studies · Media Literacy

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students read a news story and explain what its numbers measure. They check who was counted, when the data was collected, and whether the numbers support the headline.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can explain that a poll moving from 40% to 45% rose five percentage points. They can identify who was surveyed and point out when a headline claims more than the data shows.
Common Misconceptions: Students may call a five-percentage-point increase a 5% increase. They may assume a poll of 500 adults represents all voters without checking how those adults were selected. A graph with a shortened axis may make a small change look large.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: A news story says support rose from 40% to 45% in a poll of 500 adults. State the change in percentage points and name one thing you need to know about the sample.

Lesson moves

Give pairs a printed news graph and sticky notes; have them mark the axis, time period, and largest change.
Ask students to write two sentences explaining what a poll's 52% figure describes and who was surveyed.
Show groups a poll with support rising from 40% to 45% and three headlines; have them choose the accurate headline.
Compare a local news story on grocery prices with federal food price data; have students note each source and time period.

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A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to SS24.CWI.3a, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

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