Grade 5 - Statistics and Probability (Data Analysis)

The sub-organizer contains the following sections:
Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
Recommended Learning Resources

PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is expected that students will develop and implement a plan for the collection, display, and analysis of data gathered from appropriate samples.

It is expected that students will:

identify a question to generate appropriate data and predict results
distinguish between a total population and a sample
use a variety of methods to collect and record data
create classifications and ranges for grouping data
display data by hand or by computer in a variety of ways, including:
- frequency diagrams
- line plots
- broken-line graphs
evaluate the graphic presentation of the data to ensure the clear representation of the results
discuss the reasonableness of the data and the results
make inferences from the data to generate a conclusion

To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Statistics and Probabilities (Data Analysis) in other grades click on an icon below.

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

In Grade 5, the skills for analysing information in graph form are developed and practised within projects generated by the students themselves. Instruction should include sound reasoning and decision-making experiences with large sets of data. Graph building should be consolidated with students using several forms of organizing and displaying data, but their analysis of process results and their predictions will require guidance.

Have students brainstorm topics of personal interest in order to develop questions for investigation. For example:
- global warming (investigate average world temperatures)
- sports activities (investigate the most common sports or leisure activity done by students)
The data can be collected using student-developed survey forms, interviews, and so on. Have students summarize their information using tables, tallies, lists, and so on. Have them use one or more of the following techniques to group or classify data: age ranges (0 to 4, 5 to 9, 10 to 14); identifiable characteristics (age, size, shape); natural breaks (clusters of data).

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

Classroom experiences build on students' natural abilities to use data to solve problems in everyday situations. As students collect, summarize, and display data, watch for evidence of logical and critical reasoning and systematic approaches.

Collect

Develop a set of criteria with students for them to use in developing their graphs. For example:
- Are the axes clearly labelled?
- Are the increments consistently used?
- Is the plotting accurate?
- Is the presentation clear and appealing?

Question

Conduct a class discussion about the effects of the following on students' conclusions and interpretations:
- sample size (small versus large)
- method of classification
- type of graph
Note which students are able to apply and extend what they have learned and which students appear to need additional modelling and guided practice. At the end of the discussion, you may wish to have students write a short summary or list in their learning logs or journals of the things they have learned.