Statistical Questions

How the lesson starts: Statistical Questions

Stop the presses!
Hi there! Mia is the star reporter for the class newspaper, The Hallway Herald. She wants to survey her classmates. But some questions make great surveys, and some are total duds. Why? Let's find out what makes a question statistical!
One answer or many?
Mia asks, how old am I? There is only one answer: 11. Then she asks, how old are the students in this class? Now the answers vary: 11, 12, 11, 12. A statistical question expects answers that vary. That variety is the data you study!
Let's sort four questions
Mia tests four questions. How old is Liam? One person, so one answer. Not statistical. What is today's date? One fact for everyone. Not. What is 7 + 5? Always 12. Not. How old are students in Grade 6? Many kids, many ages. Statistical!