Practice asking questions with precipitation data

Given a dot plot of precipitation in two locations, frame a statistical question that the graph answers.
Details

Activity Type: 

Mini-Lesson

Types of Instruction: 

  • Data Practice

Grades: 

  • 6, 7, 8

Subjects: 

  • Earth Science

Topics: 

  • Earth's Surface Systems, Weather and Climate

Statistical Concepts: 

  • Group comparison

Graph Types: 

  • Dot plot

Standards: 

Asking questions and defining problems
Analyzing and interpreting data
Constructing explanations and designing solutions
Scale, proportion, and quantity
Stability and change
Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth's surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth's systems.
Recognize a statistical question as one that anticipates variability in the data related to the question and accounts for it in the answers.
Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6-8 texts and topics.
Integrate quantitative or technical information expressed in words in a text with a version of that information expressed visually (e.g., in a flowchart, diagram, model, graph, or table).