Unit 8, Lesson 6
Interpreting Histograms
Grade 6
Preparation
Lesson Narrative
In this lesson, students are introduced to histograms. They learn that, like a dot plot, a histogram can be used to show the distribution of a numerical data set, but unlike a dot plot, a histogram shows the frequencies of groups of values, rather than individual values. Students analyze the structures of dot plots and histograms displaying the same data sets and determine what information is easier to understand from each type of display (MP7). Students read and interpret histograms in context (MP2) to prepare them to create a histogram.
- Compare and contrast (orally) dot plots and histograms in terms of how useful they are for answering different statistical questions.
- Create a histogram to represent a data set.
- Interpret a histogram to answer (in writing) statistical questions about a data set.
Let's explore how histograms represent data sets.
Required Materials
Activity 3
Required Preparation
None
A histogram is a way to represent data on a number line with bars. Data values are grouped by ranges. The height of each bar shows how many data values are in that range. Each bar includes the left-end value but not the right-end value.