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Lesson plan

Statistics: Interpreting Displays & Running a Data Investigation

Teacher-facing plan: I do · We do · You do.

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Explicit teaching — I Do (~15 min)

1. Interpreting displays WA6MPSS1

A side-by-side column graph titled Favourite sport comparing boys in blue and girls in red across soccer, netball, cricket and swimming.
A side-by-side column graph compares two groups.

Model reading the graph, and define mode (most frequent), range (max min), and shape (where data clusters, spreads or gaps).

2. Features that influence an audience WA6MPSS2

Show two graphs of the same data — one with a truncated (non-zero) axis that exaggerates differences. Discuss how scale, colour and labels can mislead.

3. The investigation cycle WA6MPSS3

Guided practice — We Do (~20 min)

  1. Read together. Interpret a side-by-side column graph as a class; find the mode and range and describe the shape.
  2. Spot the spin. Compare a fair and a misleading version of the same data; list the features that change the impression.
  3. Plan an investigation. Co-design a class question (e.g. "How do screen-time hours differ across the week?"), agree how to collect data accurately and consistently, and choose an appropriate display.

Independent practice — You Do (~15 min, extends across the sub-sequence)

Investigation task:

  • pose a statistical question about a real-world context;
  • collect (or use provided) continuous and discrete data, ensuring accuracy and consistency;
  • represent it with a suitable display (line graph and/or side-by-side column graph);
  • interpret findings: state mode, range and shape, and describe reasons for variation;
  • reflect: could the display mislead? How is it fair?