Montana Math MT.6.SP.2
The Standard
Understand that a set of data collected to answer a statistical question has a distribution that can be described by its center, spread, and overall shape. This standard should incorporate cultural context relating to Montana Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
2026 Montana Mathematics Content Standards
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students plot numbers gathered to answer a question. They find a typical value, tell how much the values vary, and describe clusters, gaps, or a longer tail.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given a dot plot, a student finds the median and range. They describe the plot's shape and point to values that support their description.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may call the tallest stack the median, even when the middle value lies elsewhere. They may give the largest value as the range or describe an uneven plot as “random” without saying how it is uneven.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Plot 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12 on a dot plot. Find the median and range, then describe the shape.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
On a printed map of Montana tribal colleges, mark your town; measure straight-line distances and make a dot plot.
Ask, “Where do the distances cluster, how far do they spread, and what can't this plot tell us about travel?”
Hand pairs three dot plot cards; award a point for each correct median, range, and shape description supported by the plot.
Use printed dot plots of one month's daily highs for your town and a Montana reservation town; compare centers, ranges, and shapes.
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Printable MT.6.SP.2 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to MT.6.SP.2, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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