Statistical problems - statistical summaries
I can choose appropriate statistical measures to explore a statistical problem.
Statistical problems - statistical summaries
I can choose appropriate statistical measures to explore a statistical problem.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The type of data may mean that certain statistical measures are not appropriate.
- The nature of the data may mean that certain statistical measures are not appropriate.
- Certain statistical measures may not make sense within the context of the data.
Keywords
Statistical summary - A statistical summary sums up the features of a data set.
Spread - The spread/dispersion of data values describes how far apart the pieces of data are.
Central tendency - a summary measure that attempts to describe a whole set of data with a single value that represents the middle or centre of its distribution
Common misconception
Either the mean, median or mode could be used as an average in any situation.
The choice of average can depend on the type of data. For example, in a list of colours, you can find the mode but not the mean.
To help you plan your year 8 maths lesson on: Statistical problems - statistical summaries, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 maths lesson on: Statistical problems - statistical summaries, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 maths lessons from the Numerical summaries of data unit, dive into the full secondary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions
the sum of the data divided by the number of data points
the most central (middle) piece of data
the data value with the highest frequency


Exit quiz
6 Questions

