This full lesson plan, plus dataset and worksheet, from CensusAtSchool is designed to help students understand the different types of average, how to calculate and compare them and which average it is appropriate to use for a particular data set.

This resource from Cre8ate maths works with government statistics to raise issues related to waste recycling. It would work well as a cross curricular topic with science colleagues, so that students understand both the chemical and energy issues involved in waste disposal. Students are presented with a composite...

This set of resources are based on Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BiFoR) work. The activities provide an innovative way to introduce the issues surrounding the estimation of biomass. For pupils aged between 11 and 14 there are engaging activities to introduce the concept of biomass and pyramids of biomass...

This resource looks at how cutting edge science is being used to answer archaeological questions, as well as solving present day problems, such as the identification of meat in processed foods. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA was performed, at the University of York, on samples from skeletal remains unearthed by the...

In this resource students are provided with a table showing the efficiency of various factors in warming up or cooling down the neighbourhoods of three urban areas. Students are required to interpret the data,  manipulate the data and calculate averages. The data then has to be represented graphically. A number of...

In this Cre8ate maths activity students learn that a simulation is a model of a real situation. Data for the birth rate of rabbits is provided and is used by students to develop their own model to simulate the breeding of rabbits in a field and consider the likely damage to the farmer’s crop. Initially this is done...

This Core Maths task looks at how countries are ranked at the 2012 Olympic Games. Students use Excel to order the data and are asked to comment on whether the ranking is fair. This activity is designed to then lead to a discussion of weighted rankings.

The teachers' notes give...

In this task students are required to estimate dimensions and use given densities to calculate an estimate for the mass of a number of objects. Calculators and/or spreadsheets are recommended when substituting into the formulae for the volume and mass of the solids.

The teachers' notes give a suggested...

This Cre8ate maths activity allows the opportunity to discuss the modelling function of mathematics. The tasks allow students to develop their own strategies and to consider the idea of an ‘efficient’ algorithm. In addition, 'First fit and full bins' activity involves work on ratio and pie charts.

In this lesson plan from stats4schools, students are asked to interrogate a dataset of first names. Students will order information chronologically, investigate the meaning of words in the context of names, use primary and secondary data and use research effectively to support an answer or argument.

Lesson...

The Nuffield Foundation provide this resource where students use simulated stature data for men and women in eight countries to draw histograms and look for general results, as manufacturers need to take these into account when they design products. This is mainly intended as an introduction to the normal...

The Nappy Changing Challenge from Cre8ate maths provides real data about students for analysis. They undertake a timed, practical, exercise of folding a towelling nappy and putting it onto a toy baby doll. Throughout the task students complete a form for the Nappy challenge and record their completed data in an...

This resource from the Nuffield Foundation allows students to investigate relationships between anthropometric variables and write a report on their findings, which may include the use of scatter diagrams, lines of best fit, regression lines, and correlation coefficients. The spreadsheet contains anthropometric...

This Core Maths task involves substituting values into the BMI formula in order to make health decisions.

An introductory ...

This resource from the Nuffield Foundation provides the opportunity for students to fit functions to linear and quadratic graphs. It is assumed that students will already have some knowledge of linear and quadratic functions and their graphs, which are used to compare models and comment on their suitability. A...