Virginia SOL 8.PS.2.a
The Standard
Formulate questions that require the collection or acquisition of data with a focus on boxplots.
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 boxplots.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students write statistical questions that call for numerical data with expected variation. They identify who or what will be studied and whether one or more groups will be compared.
What Mastery Looks Like
- A student writes a clear question that calls for numerical data from a defined group. The question can be answered by studying one boxplot or comparing boxplots for two groups.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may write questions that produce yes or no answers instead of numerical data. They may ask about one person, leave the group unclear, or choose categories that cannot be shown in a boxplot.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Write a question comparing the nightly sleep of two student groups that could be answered with boxplots. Name the groups and the numerical data needed.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Have pairs measure hand spans, then write a question that could be answered by making boxplots for two chosen groups.
Ask students to explain why “Which sport is most popular?” does not produce data suited to a boxplot, then revise it.
Give teams question cards to sort into boxplot-ready and not boxplot-ready piles, awarding points for accurate explanations.
Use school lunch wait times to write a question comparing two days, serving lines, or grade levels with boxplots.
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Printable 8.PS.2.a Worksheet
A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to 8.PS.2.a, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.
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Related Standards
- 8.PS.3.a
Formulate questions that require the collection or acquisition of data with a focus on scatterplots.
- 7.PS.2.a
Formulate questions that require the collection or acquisition of data with a focus on histograms.
- 5.PS.1.a
Formulate questions that require the collection or acquisition of data.
- 3.PS.1.a
Formulate questions that require the collection or acquisition of data.
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