CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.A.1
The standard
Recognize a statistical question as one that anticipates variability in the data related to the question and accounts for it in the answers.
Common Core State Standards for Mathematics · Statistics and Probability
What this standard means
Students need to tell whether a question will produce one answer or a set of varied answers. They should understand that statistical questions expect different data values from different people, objects, or events. They also need to explain why a question is or is not statistical.
Mastery looks like students sorting and writing questions correctly, then naming the expected variability. Common trouble spots are questions with numbers but no variability, like “How many legs does a dog have?” and vague questions that do not name a clear group or data measure.
Ways to teach it
- Have students sort question cards into statistical and non-statistical piles, then rewrite two non-statistical questions to make them statistical.
- Ask students to write: What makes “How many pets do sixth graders own?” different from “How many pets do I own?”
- Use an exit ticket with four questions, asking students to label each statistical or not and explain one choice.
- Connect to planning a class event by asking, “What snacks do students prefer?” and discussing why varied answers matter.
Plan a lesson for CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.A.1
Generate a complete lesson plan aligned to this standard, with objectives, activities, and materials. Free, no account needed.
Related standards
- CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.B.5d
Relating the choice of measures of center and variability to the shape of the data distribution and the context in which the data were gathered.
- CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.B.5c
Giving quantitative measures of center (median and/or mean) and variability (interquartile range and/or mean absolute deviation), as well as describing any over...
- CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.A.2
Understand that a set of data collected to answer a statistical question has a distribution which can be described by its center, spread, and overall shape.
- CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.A
Develop understanding of statistical variability.