Statistical Sleuths

Statistical Sleuths involves students in mathematical problem-solving processes. Faced with dilemmas such as, how much time an average eighth grade student should spend on homework, students formulate and test their hypotheses using mock statistics and identify sampling techniques that could be used to collect the necessary data. They then organize the data into several graphs and reflect on the data’s central tendency. Throughout the exploration of the unit, a Detective Diary is utilized so that students can share personal reflections in a journal format. For the summative assessment, students use skills and processes learned during class to complete an FCAT style test and then embark on a performance based statistical journey which replicates the daily activities from the unit, allowing students to prove their learning in a real-world application.