4. Statistics and Probability

1. Exploring Univariate and Bivariate Data (S1)
2. Sampling and Study Design (S2)
3. Probability Models (S3)
4. Sampling Distributions (S4)
5. Point and Interval Estimation (S5)
6. Significance Testing (S6)
7. Inference for Regression (S7)
8. Assessing Assumptions of Statistical Models (S8)

Additional Links to General Mathematics Sites

• Mathematics Games and Student Activities
• Mathematics Lessons Plans
• Interactive Learning and Problem Solving Activities
• Word Searches and Puzzles in Mathematics
• Miscellaneous Sites

High School

1. Sampling Distributions
   1. Analysis of Human Population Growth
      This 3-part activity is designed to introduce students to human population growth. Several online sources are used in this activity, including a World Population Clock that is a real time data site. In Parts 1 and 2 students make a variety of mathematical calculations designed to illustrate the current size and growth rate of the human population. In Part 3 students analyze a graph that shows human population growth over time and complete a written assessment that requires them to demonstrate their level of understanding of population size, growth rate, factors that have led to current levels of growth, and predictions for the future.  The site includes three activities, rubrics for assessment, and suggestions for accomodations for special needs.
   2. Data Analysis and Statistics Lessons
      This site is an introduction to descriptive statistics and focuses on the fact that we use statistics in our everyday life.  The site begins with an introduction to the teacher.  The link at the bottom of the page will send you to student activities on Mode, Median, Mean, Central Tendency,Variation, Range, Variance and Standard Deviation.
   3. Descriptive Statistics
      This is an introduction to descriptive statistics that offers the student a very hands-on approach and keeps them interested by traveling through the site and around the net. It covers central tendency and variance quite thoroughly.
   4. Exploring Population Growth
      This series of activities explores the environmental and mathematical aspects of population growth. It is a long term project with 9 available lessons each 45 minutes in duration. This project is appropriate for high school math and can be tailored to meet indivdual student needs.
   5. Glencoe Mathmatics - Webquest: "When is Weather Normal?"
      This site allows the student to become an assistant to a meteorologist for a local television station. The meteorologist wants to provide viewers with some interesting information about weather. The student is asked to research the relationship between latitude, longitude, and average monthly temperature and must prepare a portfolio of the data collected including any relationships shown by the data. Students could also prepare a Web page with the information. Very nice site already set up with links for students to use.
   6. How Much Money Do Baseball Players Really Make?
      This lesson is intended for students 9-12 who are exploring the statistical concepts of variance and covariance in whatever class they may be currently enrolled. This is a student activity.
   7. Put the Heart Into Mathematics
      Outstanding! This NCTM (Illuminations) activity is geared for students in grades 9-12. This unit contains four different teacher lesson plans with reproducible student worksheets, and interactive graphing and data collection capabilities. The lessons provided explore cardiac output by measuring the amount of blood being pumped by an experimental heart. Students will explore rates of change and accumulation in the context of cardiac output and accumulation using hands on experimentation, data collection, "pencil and paper" activities, etc.
   8. Shedding Light on the Subject: Function Models of Light Decay
      Presented by NCTM (Illuminations), this website provides the teacher with a four lesson unit on the decay of light as an exponential model. Teachers will appreciate the printer friendly lesson plans accompanied by student objectives, worksheets, and references. The site includes an interactive grapher and downloadable movie clips (quick time required) for students.
   9. Take Me Out to the Ballgame!
      A WebQuest for high school statistics classes that is student interactive.  Students are asked to become the statistician and find the greatest baseball hitter of all time.  Students use the web to collect factual statistical information as they complete the project.  This activity is excellent for cooperative learning and group work, but could also be done independently.
   10. The Cereal Box Problem
       This site includes a teacher lesson plan and resources to simulate an experiment related to prizes in cereal boxes.  From the simulation they will answer several questions and predict outcomes and finally decide what parameters would make the contest fail or succeed. It includes an online simulation and many open ended questions.
   11. What Percentage of your Class is Right or Left Handed?
       Cythia Lanius provides this lesson for high school students to determine the percentage of students that are right or left handed in a classroom. Students perform experiments, collect data, graph the data, and analyze their findings. Worksheets, spreadsheets and teacher notes are available.