2. Science Standard 2:Scientific Thinking Indicator 6.2.1: Find the mean and median of a set of data. Taken from: http://dc.doe.in.gov/Standards/AcademicStandards/StandardSearch.aspx
3. Definitions Mean-the average obtained by adding the values and dividing by the number of values. Median-the value that divides a set of data, written in order of size, into two equal parts.
4. Finding the Mean Example -Data: 1, 4, 3, 5, 2 -Add the numbers: 1+4+3+5+2=15 -Divide by how many numbers were added (5): 15÷5=3 -The mean is 3.
5. Finding the Median Example (if there is an odd amount of data) -Data: 1, 4, 3, 5, 2 -Put data in order from least to greatest: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 -The median is the middle number: 3
6. Finding the Median Example (if there is an even amount of data) -Data: 1, 4, 3, 5, 2, 6 -Put data in order from least to greatest: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 -Find the two middle numbers, add them up, and divide by two. 3+4=7 7÷2=3.5 -The median is 3.5
8. Activity Each group needs a recorder to write down the information. Each person needs to count the M&Ms in their bag and tell the recorder how many they have. As a group, find the mean and median of the data. Record the information on the board.
9. Other Mean and Median Activities M&Ms as a whole class Class height Class shoe size Class backpack weight Height of lima bean and pinto bean plants. Many others
10. References Indiana Department of Education standard: http://dc.doe.in.gov/Standards/AcademicStandards/StandardSearch.aspx Mean: http://www.mathsisfun.com/mean.html Median: http://www.mathsisfun.com/median.html Pictures: ClipArt M&Ms picture: http://home.fnal.gov/~cheung/rtes/RTESWeb/activity_site/images/minis%20mm.jpg
