Dot Plots, Histograms, and Box Plots
I can read a dot plot, a histogram and a box plot, and count the values in each part.
What students learn
Students learn to read the same data as a dot plot, a histogram and a box plot, find the five-number summary, and count the values in each part of a box plot.
See inside
The key rule
Each of the four parts of a box plot holds about a quarter of the values. A wide part means its values are spread out, not that there are more of them.
min · Q1 · median · Q3 · max: four parts
On this sheet, a histogram bar from 60 to 70 counts 60 ≤ x < 70: its left edge is in, its right edge out.
Watch out
A box plot of 16 scores has its box from 20 to 30 and its right whisker from 30 to 62. Lia says most of the scores are above 30.
The mistake: most of the 16 scores are above 30A long whisker is not a crowd.
The fix: about 4 of the 16 are above 30Each part holds about a quarter: 16 ÷ 4 = 4.
The mistakes it targets
- Reads a long part of a box plot as most of the data
- Takes the middle of the number line as the median
- Counts a histogram bar's right edge as part of that bar
- Keeps the median in both halves when finding the quartiles
- Counts only one whisker's quarter of the data
- Finds the median before sorting the data
The interactive Teacher Deck (32 slides, PowerPoint)
- The Learn page taught on screen: 9 fill-in blanks, each filled on its own click as students write it
- The worked example one slide per step (four steps), each with the reason for the step
- Six practice and three apply problems: a your-turn slide with a think-time bar, then the solution one line per click
- Jump buttons on every slide: go straight to any problem, the answer bank or the exit ticket
- Speaker notes on each problem: the question to ask, the worked answer and the common error to listen for
- A completed deck PDF (19 pages) with every slide fully built, to print or post
The student packet (9 pages)
- Learn: guided notes with four definitions, the key rule, a worked example and a Watch Out error pair
- Practice: two warm-up, two standard and two stretch problems, with an answer bank for self-checking that hides three common-mistake decoys
- Apply: one word problem, a reasoning prompt and one error analysis
- Assess: an exit ticket of four items, two per page, with an I-can self-rating
- Homework (page 5): eight new problems, two warm-up, four standard and two stretch
- Answer key (pages 6–7): every problem worked step by step, six common mistakes with what to do about each, and a grading guide, plus the homework key (page 8)
- Color and ink-saver editions of the whole packet
Standard codes refer to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. Math Class 678 is an independent publisher, not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by NGA Center or CCSSO. Every product is sold on Teachers Pay Teachers.