Virginia SOL 6.PS.2
SOL Standard (Knowledge and Skills Cluster)
The student will represent the mean as a balance point and determine the effect on statistical measures when a data point is added, removed, or changed.
Virginia Standards of Learning for Mathematics
Cluster contents
Knowledge and Skills in This Standard
6.PS.2 is a Standards of Learning standard. These are the knowledge and skills expectations under it.
- 6.PS.2.a
Represent the mean of a set of data graphically as the balance point represented in a line plot (dot plot).
- 6.PS.2.b
Determine the effect on measures of center when a single value of a data set is added, removed, or changed.
- 6.PS.2.c
Observe patterns in data to identify outliers and determine their effect on mean, median, mode, or range.
Teacher's field guide
What This Cluster Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students plot numerical data and represent the mean as the balance point of the dot plot. They predict and calculate how adding, removing, or changing one value affects the mean, median, mode, and range.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student can make a dot plot, locate the mean, and show that the total distance below it equals the total distance above it. Given one added, removed, or changed value, the student can correctly predict and calculate which measures change.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think the mean must be a data value or that equal numbers of dots must lie on each side. They may assume an outlier changes mean, median, mode, and range equally. Some calculate range using the number of data points instead of greatest minus least.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Plot 2, 4, 4, 6, 9 and mark the mean as the balance point. Change 9 to 14, then find the new mean, median, mode, and range.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Tape a number line to a ruler, place equal washers at data values, and slide a pencil fulcrum to find the balance point.
Write an explanation of why changing the largest value often changes the mean and range more than the median or mode.
Play Change One Card, where students alter one data card and earn points for correctly predicting which statistical measures will change.
Use a week of daily temperatures, add one unusually hot day, and report which measures change and by how much.
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Printable 6.PS.2 Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 6.PS.2, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.
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