Library

IM: 6.8.1: Got Data? (Lesson)

By Newsela Staff
Last updated 6 days ago
32 Questions
1.1: Dots of Data
Here is a dot plot for a data set.

"Number of children per class."

Would this be an appropriate label to represent the data in the dot plot? Explain your reasoning.

"Distance between home and school, in miles."

Would this be an appropriate label to represent the data in the dot plot? Explain your reasoning.

"Hours spent watching TV each day."

Would this be an appropriate label to represent the data in the dot plot? Explain your reasoning.

"Weight of elephants, in pounds."

Would this be an appropriate label to represent the data in the dot plot? Explain your reasoning.

"Points received on a homework assignment."

Would this be an appropriate label to represent the data in the dot plot? Explain your reasoning.

  1. Think of another label that can be used with the dot plot. Write it below the scale of the dot plot. Be sure to include the unit of measurement.

In your scenario, what does one dot represent?

In your scenario, what would a data point of 0 mean? What would a data point of 3\frac{1}{4} mean?

1.2: Surveying the Class
Here are some survey questions. Your teacher will explain which questions can be used to learn more about the students in your class and how the responses will be collected. The data that your class collects will be used in upcoming activities.

How long does it usually take you to travel to school? Answer to the nearest minute.

How do you travel to school on most days? Choose one.

-Walk -Bike -Scooter or skateboard -Car -School bus -Public transport -Other

How tall are you without your shoes on? Answer to the nearest centimeter.

What is the length of your right foot without your shoe on? Answer to the nearest centimeter.

What is your arm span? Stretch your arms open, and measure the distance from the tip of your right hand’s middle finger to the tip of your left hand’s middle finger, across your back. Answer to the nearest centimeter.

How important are the following issues to you? Rate each on a scale from 0 (not important) to 10 (very important).

-Reducing pollution -Recycling -Conserving water

Do you have any siblings?

How many hours of sleep per night do you usually get when you have school the next day? Answer to the nearest half hour.

How many hours of sleep per night do you usually get when you do not have school the next day? Answer to the nearest half hour.

Other than traveling from school, what do you do right after school on most days?

-Have a snack
-Do homework
-Read a book
-Talk on the phone
-Practice a sport
-Do chores
-Use the computer
-Participate in an extracurricular activity

If you could meet one of these celebrities, who would you choose?

-A city or state leader
-A champion athlete
-A movie star
-A musical artist
-A best-selling author

Estimate how much time per week you usually spend on each of these activities. Answer to the nearest quarter of an hour.

-Playing sports or doing outdoor activities -Using a screen for fun (watching TV, playing computer games, etc.) -Doing homework -Reading

1.3: Numerical and Categorical Data

The first survey question about travel time produces numerical data. Identify two other questions that produce numerical data. For each, describe what was measured and its unit of measurement.


The second survey question about travel method produces categorical data. Identify two other questions that produce categorical data. For each, describe what characteristic or feature was being studied.


Think about the responses to these survey questions. Do they produce numerical or categorical data? Explain how you know.

How many pets do you have?

How many years have you lived in this state?

What is your favorite band?

What kind of music do you like best?

What is the area code of your school’s phone number?

Where were you born?

How much does your backpack weigh?

Name two characteristics you could investigate to learn more about your classmates. Make sure one would give categorical data and the other would give numerical data.


Priya and Han collected data on the birth months of students in their class. Here are the lists of their records for the same group of students.

This list shows Priya’s records.
  • Jan
  • Apr
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Oct
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • Aug
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • Nov
  • Nov
  • Dec
  • Feb
  • Mar
This list shows Han’s records.
  • 1
  • 4
  • 1
  • 2
  • 10
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 8
  • 9
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 11
  • 11
  • 12
  • 2
  • 3

How are their records alike? How are they different?

What kind of data—categorical or numerical—do you think the variable “birth month” produces? Explain how you know.