Focus on Statistics: Investigations for the Integration of Statistics into Grades 9-12 Mathematics Classrooms

Focus on Statistics consists of 19 investigations in statistics for grades 9–12. It is written to help classroom teachers implement key statistical concepts in their classrooms.Included in the 19 investigations are three exploratory investigations that encourage students to collect and analyzetheir own data. In Investigation 4, students collect data from the Census at School website involving the amount ofhomework for different grade levels. In Investigation 8, students collect data on two quantitative variables involving thelength of time for dominoes to fall. In Investigation 18, students use the Census at School website to collect and comparedata pertaining to stress levels for students in the US and New Zealand.Each investigation explicitly contains the four components of the problem-solving process presented in the American Statistical Association’s Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education (GAISE) Report: A Pre-K–12 Curriculum Framework (www.amstat.org/education/gaise). The GAISE framework emphasizes hands-on learning of statistics by using four steps: formulating a statistical question that can be answered with data; designing and implementing a plan to collect appropriate data; analyzing the collected data by graphical and numerical methods; and interpreting the results of the analysis in the context of the original question.A second component of the GAISE framework is comprised of three levels of statistical development: A, B, and C. These levels are independent of age and grade level. Students progress through these levels as they continue to have more experiences with concepts of statistics and probability.Each investigation encourages student involvement through the use of student worksheets. These worksheets provide guidance as students, working in groups, follow the four statistical problem-solving steps.Focus on Statistics is designed so each lesson can stand alone. Our goal is to provide you with a resource to give you and your students data analysis experiences that bring the essential concepts in statistics to life. It also is designed to give you flexibility. Several investigations can be completed in one to two 50-minute class periods.