Life After The Oasis - Statistics in the Media

Australian curriculum content descriptions: 

MA5.3-4NA, MA5.3-2WM

Years 10 Mathematics:

• Determine quartiles and interquartile range (ACMSP248)
• Evaluate statistical reports in the media and other places by linking claims to displays, statistics and representative data (ACMSP253)

Syllabus outcomes: 

General capabilities: Numeracy, Literacy, Ethical Understanding, Critical and Creative Thinking

Relevant parts of Year 10 achievement standards:  Students evaluate statistical reports and calculate quartiles and inter-quartile ranges

Unit of work: Life After The Oasis – Mathematics

Time required: 90 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate of discussion on misleading graphs and provide worked examples of five number summary (minimum and maximum values, median and upper and lower quartiles) where required

• Student Worksheets – one copy per student
• Device capable of presenting a video and presentation to the class
• Articles from Homeless In The Media Factsheet – either digital or printed per group
• Misleading Graphs Presentation Student – one printed graph per group
• Misleading Graphs Presentation Teacher – teacher copy (optional)
• Media Statistics Worksheet – one per student
• Representing And Comparing Data Factsheet – one per student or prepared to project to the class (optional)
• Handling Sensitive Topics And Controversial Issues Factsheet – teacher copy (optional)

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Empathy
• Problem solving

This resource has been adapted from ‘Teaching Social Issues Through English’ developed with the English Teachers Association NSW and the ‘Youth Homelessness Matters Resource’ developed by Janice Atkin. You can find these resources here.