What makes a good sample? Your classes collaborate to answer this question through a task involving areas of rectangles. Given a set of 100 rectangles, they sample a set of five rectangles to estimate the average area of the figures. The task allows groups to problem solve and develop their own strategies.

Concepts

random sampling, sampling, area, area of rectangles, averages, mean, central tendency

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Additional Tags

math

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Instructional Ideas

• Choose collaborative groups; allow them to work as a group to complete the task making observations about their discussions
• Have groups present their methods of completing the task

Classroom Considerations

• Requires a proficiency with finding area of rectangles and calculating a mean

Pros

• Promotes communication within collaborative groups
• Combines several concepts within a single task

Cons

• None

Common Core

6.SP.B.5.a 6.SP.B.5.c 7.SP.A.1 7.SP.A.2 MP1 MP3 MP6