The Median – Lesson Plan

Class:

Date:

Standard(s):
Students know the definitions of the mean, median and mode of a distribution of data and can
compute each in particular situations.

Key Objective(s):
Here you'll learn how to determine the median of a set of numerical data when there is an odd
number of values and an even number of values in real-world contexts. You'll also learn why it
is better to use the median than the mean as a measure of central tendency when there are
outliers in a set of data.

Learning Activities and Timing:

Exit Criteria:
When students finish this lesson, they should be able to calculate the median of a data set
whether the number of data values is an odd number or an even number.

Teaching Strategies and Tips:

In working through the lesson on The Median, there are several learning objectives you want
the students to know. You also want students to be able to demonstrate their knowledge of
these concepts by the end of the lesson.

1. Students should understand what is meant by the median of a data set. The median of a
data set is the value that occupies the middle position of the data values when the values
have been arranged in ascending order.

2. Students should know that the median of an odd number of values is the single value that
occupies the middle position when the values have been arranged in ascending order.

What is the median of the following data values?

28, 13, 35, 49, 88, 26, 37, 35, 22, 53, 42

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The first step is to arrange the values in ascending order:

13, 22, 26, 28, 35, 35, 37, 42, 49, 53, 88

There are 11 values. The value in the middle position is 35. There are 5 values before 35 and 5
values after 35.

3. Students should know that the median of an even number of data values is the mean of the
two numbers that occupy the middle positions when the values have been arranged in
ascending order.

What is the median of the following data values?

28, 13, 35, 49, 88, 26, 37, 22, 53, 42

The first step is to arrange the values in ascending order:

13, 22, 26, 28, 35, 37, 42, 49, 53, 88

There are 10 values. There is no single value in the middle position. Therefore the value in the
middle position is the mean of the two values that occupy the two middle positions. The two
values are 35 and 37.

If this value were inserted into the data, there would be 5 values before 36 and 5 values after
36.

Common Errors:
 Not arranging the values in ascending order. Students often forget to arrange the
values in ascending order. They simply look at the data values as they are presented and
determine the value(s) that occupy the middle the position. Arranging the values must be
stressed whenever students are determining the median of a data set.

Differentiated Instruction:
 Intrapersonal: Students who have the intrapersonal learning style will learn best if they are
encouraged to record what they have learned about the median in their math journal.

 Body-Kinesthetic Learners: Students who have a body-kinesthetic learning style will achieve
learning the concept of median by acting out the process of physically creating a situation in
which they will have to determine the median. If the classroom has tile floors, select an
area of tiles to represent grid paper. Use masking tape to form the axes. If there are not tile
floors, use construction paper to create the tiles. Label the axes with the numbers 1
through 31 inclusive. Have students stand on the label that represents the day of the month

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 they celebrate their birthday. Once all of the students are standing, have them now stand in
a horizontal row to represent the numbers from 1-31. Have students at each end of the row
sit down simultaneously until one person remains standing (an odd number of students
participated) or until two people remain standing (an even number of students
participated). Ask the student or students what number they represent. If one student is
standing, his/her birth date will be the median for the data. If two people are standing, the
mean of their birth dates will be the median for the data.

Enrichment:
Have students develop an activity that would result is determining the median of a set of data
values. The activity can be similar to the one above. Encourage the students to be creative and
to use their imaginations. When the activities have been completed, randomly select several
students to conduct their activity with the class. The remaining activities could be displayed on
posters in the classroom.

Problem Solving:
The following problem must be completed by two people working as a team.

Hold a 12inch ruler at the top in a vertical position such that the ‘0’ mark is at the bottom.

 Have your partner hold out one hand with thumb and forefinger on either side of the
ruler at the ‘0’ mark but not touching the ruler.

 Drop the ruler without warning your partner.

 Record the measurement, in inches, that shows where, on the ruler, your partner
grabbed it.

 Repeat this process 20 times and record every result.

 When the activity has been completed, calculate the median of the data set.

Change roles with your partner – your partner will drop the ruler and you will catch it. Repeat
the process 25 times and record every result.

When the activity has been completed, calculate the median of the data set.