Basketball in the Classroom

Mike Peek (mikep1@cris.com)
Box 125
Joplin, MT 59531

Dates: First week in April or variable

Description: A workable application in statistics beyond the mean. Participants will gather data from their classrooms by means of recording "baskets made" via nerf baskets and balls or simply bunched-up paper and garbage cans.

Procedure: The students will be organized into three or four groups depending on the size of the class and calculate the mean, median and mode of their group as well as the entire class. They will be asked whether their group represents the population and asked to explain what it means to represent the population.

The students will then enter the population data into a spreadsheet and be guided through a calculation of the standard deviation (population) via sum of squared differences. The students will then plot a histogram of the population and again, be asked the question: does their group represents the population and what it means to represent the population?

Students will then share their data online with the rest of the participants and ask the same question.

Inclusion: Activities worksheet, step-by-step guides, post-activity study sheet, and a quiz to be used at the discretion of each classroom teacher.