Home›Lesson Plans›Mathematics›Statistics & Probability · Grade 6

Mean, Median & Mode: Measures of Center

Sixth graders learn three ways to describe the “center” of a data set — the mean (average), median (middle), and mode (most common) — plus the range, and when each one tells the best story.

Grade 6Statistics50 minutes1 class periodGradual ReleaseExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Find the mean.
  • ✓Find the median.
  • ✓Find the mode.
  • ✓Find the range and choose the best measure.
Essential Question

You want ONE number to describe a whole set of test scores. Should it be the average, the middle, or the most common? Each tells a different story!

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Statistics Explorer · Interactive

The Statistics Explorer

Project this and tap each measure. Have students learn how mean, median, mode, and range each describe a data set!

📊 Explore measures of center — tap eachTry it

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

Launch — One Number for Many

5 min

How do you describe a whole set of scores with ONE number?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a data set.
  • Ask for one summary number.
  • Set the goal: measures of center.

🎒 Student Actions

  • See the data.
  • Wonder how.
  • Predict the idea.
2

I Do — Mean, Median, Mode

10 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Find the mean (average).
  • Find the median (middle).
  • Find the mode (most).

🎒 Student Actions

  • Find the mean.
  • Find the median.
  • Find the mode.
3

We Do — Explore Together

13 min

Class uses the Statistics Explorer.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Tap each measure.
  • Compute it for a set.
  • Find the range.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each.
  • Compute it.
  • Find range.
4

You Do — On Your Own

12 min

Students analyze data.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Find mean, median, mode.
  • Find the range.
  • Choose the best measure.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Find them.
  • Find range.
  • Choose one.
5

Close — Close

5 min

One data set.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Give a small data set.
  • Find the mean and median.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Find them.
  • Explain 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.5

Summarize numerical data sets in relation to their context.

CCSS
6.SP.3

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

CCSS
6.SP.2

Understand that a distribution has center, spread, and shape.

SMP
MP.4

Model and interpret data with statistics.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Measure + example cards.
  • Sentence frame: “The mean/median/mode is ___.”
  • Line up data to find the median.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with the mode.
  • Use small data sets.
  • Line up numbers in order.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Compare mean vs. median with an outlier.
  • Choose the best measure and justify.
  • Find measures from a graph.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🧮Calculators
  • 💻The Statistics Explorer
  • 📊Data cards
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

datacollected informationmeanthe averagemedianthe middle valuemodethe most common valuerangebiggest minus smallestmeasure of centera number summarizing the dataoutliera value far from the othersaveragethe 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
Find the mean of 4, 6, and 8.
6 (18 ÷ 3).
QUESTION 2
What is the median of 3, 7, 9, 12, 15?
9 (the middle number).
QUESTION 3
When is the median a better summary than the mean?
When there are extreme values (outliers) that would pull the average off.

Going deeper? The outlier effect.

Have students compute the mean and median of a data set, then add one huge outlier and see which measure changes more. A printable statistics sheet is in the Math 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 & ModeFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
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 & ModeQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
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 & ModePrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: average, data, mean, measure of center, median, mode, outlier, range
  1. collected information
  2. the average
  3. a number summarizing the data
  4. the most common value
  5. a value far from the others
  6. the mean
  7. the middle value
  8. biggest minus smallest

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. Find the mean of 4, 6, and 8.
  2. What is the median of 3, 7, 9, 12, 15?
  3. When is the median a better summary than the mean?
Answer key — Part A: 1) data · 2) mean · 3) measure of center · 4) mode · 5) outlier · 6) average · 7) median · 8) range
Part B: 1) 6 (18 ÷ 3). 2) 9 (the middle number). 3) When there are extreme values (outliers) that would pull the average off.