Download Raisin Activity

Raisin Activity—6-12 Grade Math Activity
Reference to Selected Statistics Standards Found in the 2010 Alabama Course of Study
By
Linda Bridges, Secondary AMSTI Math Specialist, UAHuntsville
TASK:
Count the number of raisins in two different brands of boxes containing the same total weight of
raisins (for example, 0.5 oz boxes, one group of Publix brand and one group of SunMaid brand, etc.) Be
sure to have about 14-15 boxes of each brand. List the number of raisins in each of the 14 boxes of the
0.5 ounce boxes of Publix raisins, then list the number of raisins in each of the 14 boxes of the 0.5 ounce
boxes of SunMaid raisins. Record the counts under two columns headed by the two different name
brands.
6th Grade:
Standards 25, (6-SP1) Explain how the question, “How many raisins are in a 0.5 ounce box of Brand A
raisins?”, is a statistical question since there is variability in the data.
Standards 28, (6-SP4) : Make a box plot for the number of raisins in each brand’s box. There will be
two box plots, one for each brand. Additionally, students can make a dot plot and/or histogram for each
brand.
Standards 26-27 (6-SP2, 6-SP3), 29a-d (6-SP5a-d) Talk about the variability of the data. Not every box
containing the same number of ounces of raisins and from the same brand contain exactly the same
number of raisins. For the box plots, talk about the median as the center and then discuss the
variation in the data (perhaps range and interquartile range). For the dot plot, talk about finding the
mean and the mean absolute deviation and then discuss the shape of the dot plot and the amount of
variability.
7th Grade:
Standards 17-20 (7-SP1, 7-SP2, 7-SP3, 7-SP4): Discuss how randomly sampling boxes of these raisins
gives an indication of the population (which would consist of ALL boxes of that size and brand—not just
the 14 we sampled). Make inferences about the mean or median of all the population by observing the
sample data. Discuss overlap and differences of centers for the two different brands and their data.
Compare the two populations.
Algebra I:
Standards 41-43 (S-ID1, S-ID2, S-ID3): Make dot plots, histograms, and/or box plots. Discuss shape and
variability. Compare center (mean, median) and spread (interquartile range and standard deviation) of
both data sets. Discuss effects of possible outliers. Interpret differences in shapes, centers, spread in
the context of the data sets.
Algebra II or Algebra II/Trig:
Standards 32-33 for Algebra II; Standards 37-38 for Algebra II/Trig (S-ID4, S-IC1): Observe dot plot and
look for how closely it does or does not fit normal distribution. Estimate population percentages by
looking at mean and standard deviation and using 68%-95%-99.7% rule. Understand that statistics is a
process for making inferences about population parameters based on a random sample from the
population.