Virginia SOL 7.PS.2.a
The Standard
Formulate questions that require the collection or acquisition of data with a focus on histograms.
Virginia Standards of Learning for Mathematics · The student will apply the data cycle (formulate questions; collect or acquire data; organize and represent data; and analyze data and communicate results) with a focus on histograms.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students pose questions that call for numerical data with different possible values. They identify the group to study, what to measure, and the unit so results can be grouped into intervals.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students write a clear question that produces varied numerical data from a defined group. They can explain why the results could be grouped into intervals and shown in a histogram.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may write yes-or-no questions or questions that produce categories instead of numbers. They may omit the group, measurement, or unit. Some confuse data suited for a histogram with data suited for a bar graph.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Write one question about seventh graders that could be answered with a histogram. Name the numerical data, unit, and group you would study.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Have students measure paper airplane flight distances, then rewrite a question about the results so it can be answered with a histogram.
Compare “What is your favorite snack?” with “How many snacks do you eat weekly?” and explain which question fits a histogram.
Sort question cards into histogram-ready or not histogram-ready, then revise two unsuitable questions to produce numerical data.
Plan a survey about student commute times, including the group surveyed, measurement unit, and intervals that might show useful patterns.
Free download
Printable 7.PS.2.a Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 7.PS.2.a, 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 worksheetKeep exploring
Related Standards
- 8.PS.3.a
Formulate questions that require the collection or acquisition of data with a focus on scatterplots.
- 8.PS.2.a
Formulate questions that require the collection or acquisition of data with a focus on boxplots.
- 3.PS.1.a
Formulate questions that require the collection or acquisition of data.
- 4.PS.1.a
Formulate questions that require the collection or acquisition of data.
Turn this exact standard into a lesson
Grade, subject, topic, and the complete standard are prefilled. Create one free, no account needed.