CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.B.5
The Standard
Summarize numerical data sets in relation to their context, such as by:
Common Core State Standards for Mathematics
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students describe a numerical data set using its size, units, center, spread, shape, and unusual values. They connect each statistic to the situation and choose measures that fit the data.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students report the number of data values and the measurement units. They choose suitable measures of center and spread, describe the shape, identify unusual values, and explain each result in context.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may report a mean or median without naming the units or explaining what the value means. They may treat an outlier as a calculation mistake. Some choose the mean for skewed data without noticing how the outlier pulls it.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Commute times are 8, 9, 10, 10, 11, and 30 minutes. Write a two-sentence summary that includes sample size, units, median, IQR, the outlier, and why median fits.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give groups sticky notes with data values to build a dot plot, then calculate the median and IQR and mark any outliers.
Ask students to write: Which better describes these salaries, mean or median, and what feature of the data supports your choice?
Play Data Summary Match by having pairs connect data cards with the correct graph, center, spread, and written interpretation.
Use local daily temperatures from one month to compare typical temperature, variation, clusters, and unusual days.
Free download
Printable 6.SP.B.5 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.B.5, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
Download the worksheetLearning progression
Where This Standard Sits
See the whole path on the Statistics & Probability progression map.
Before This Standard
If students are struggling here, check these first.
- CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.A.3
Understanding center and variation supports choosing and explaining statistics when summarizing a data set in context.
- CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.A.2
Understanding distributions by center, spread, and shape is needed to summarize numerical data sets and explain measures in context.
- CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.B.4
Making dot plots, histograms, and box plots helps students see shape, center, spread, and unusual values they must summarize.
What This Unlocks
Mastery here sets students up for these next.
Keep exploring
Related Standards
- CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.B.6
Represent data on two quantitative variables on a scatter plot, and describe how the variables are related.
- CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.A
Summarize, represent, and interpret data on a single count or measurement variable
- CCSS.Math.Content.6.SP.B
Summarize and describe distributions.
- CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-ID.B
Summarize, represent, and interpret data on two categorical and quantitative variables
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