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Mean, Median, and Mode

Sixth graders learn to summarize a data set with its mean, median, and mode, how to find each one, and when each best describes the data, and check what they know.

Grade 6Mean, Median, and Mode50 minutes1 class periodGradual ReleaseExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Define the three measures.
  • ✓Find the mean.
  • ✓Find the median & mode.
  • ✓Pick the best measure.
Essential Question

A team scores 2, 4, 4, 6, and 9 over five games. What single number best captures how they usually do, and which measure should you use?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Model · Interactive Tool

Measures of Center Check

Project this and answer each question about mean, median, and mode — read the explanation after each one.

📊 Check what you know about measures of centerTry it
Answer each question about mean, median, and mode.
The Lesson · Gradual Release (I Do · We Do · You Do)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — One Number for Many

5 min

A team scores 2, 4, 4, 6, and 9 points over five games. What single number best describes how they usually do?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show the five scores.
  • Ask for one typical number.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Measures of Center Check

12 min

Students answer questions about mean, median, and mode.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Measures of Center Check.
  • Answer each question.
  • Read the why.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Check.
  • Read it.
3

Modify — Find All Three

13 min

Students compute each measure.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Take a small data set.
  • Find its mean, median, and mode.
  • Compare the three.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Take.
  • Find.
  • Compare.
4

Create — Collect and Summarize

15 min

Students gather and describe data.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Collect data from classmates.
  • Find the mean, median, and mode.
  • Say which best describes it.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Collect.
  • Find.
  • Say.
5

Reflect — Describing Data

5 min

Students reflect on measures of center.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • How do you find the mean?
  • When might the median describe data better than the mean?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

CCSS
6.SP.B.5

Summarize numerical data sets in relation to their context, including measures of center.

CCSS
6.SP.A.3

Recognize that a measure of center summarizes a data set with a single number.

CCSS
6.SP.B.4

Display numerical data in plots on a number line, including dot plots and histograms.

CCSS
MP.4

Model with mathematics.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Mean / median / mode word cards.
  • Sentence frame: “The ___ is the middle value.”
  • Work one measure at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with small, whole-number sets.
  • Line up number cards to find the median.
  • Find the mode by tallying first.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Compare how an outlier changes each measure.
  • Find measures from a dot plot.
  • Decide which measure fits a real data set.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 📊Sample data sets
  • 💻Measures of Center Check
  • 🧮Number cards
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

data seta collection of numbers or values gathered about somethingmeasure of centera single number that describes the middle of a data setmeanthe average: the sum of the values divided by how many there aremedianthe middle value when the data is in ordermodethe value that appears most oftenrangethe difference between the largest and smallest valuesoutliera value much larger or smaller than the restaverageanother word for the mean
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
How do you find the mean of a data set?
Add all the values, then divide by how many values there are.
QUESTION 2
What is the median, and how do you find it?
The middle value; put the numbers in order and find the one in the center (or average the two middle ones).
QUESTION 3
When might the median describe data better than the mean?
When there is an outlier, since a very large or small value pulls the mean but barely affects the median.

Create: collect and summarize.

Have students collect a small data set from classmates, find its mean, median, and mode, and say which best describes the data. A printable measures-of-center worksheet is in the Mathematics library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Mean, Median, and ModeFlip
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Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Mean, Median, and ModeQuiz
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Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Mean, Median, and ModePrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: average, data set, mean, measure of center, median, mode, outlier, range
  1. the middle value when the data is in order
  2. the value that appears most often
  3. a value much larger or smaller than the rest
  4. another word for the mean
  5. the average: the sum of the values divided by how many there are
  6. the difference between the largest and smallest values
  7. a collection of numbers or values gathered about something
  8. a single number that describes the middle of a data set

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. How do you find the mean of a data set?
  2. What is the median, and how do you find it?
  3. When might the median describe data better than the mean?
Answer key — Part A: 1) median · 2) mode · 3) outlier · 4) average · 5) mean · 6) range · 7) data set · 8) measure of center
Part B: 1) Add all the values, then divide by how many values there are. 2) The middle value; put the numbers in order and find the one in the center (or average the two middle ones). 3) When there is an outlier, since a very large or small value pulls the mean but barely affects the median.