By Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic Imagine a world in which numbers and data come alive to solve problems, spark curiosity, and tell captivating stories. In this world, math isn’t boring or intimidating—it’s vibrant and full of possibilities, unlocking colorful and creative ways to understand the world around us. This is the world of Daphne, the data-drawing dragon. Daphne … [Read more...] about Graphing with Kids: Teaching the Superpower of Numbers and Data
Archives for September 2025
On the Pedagogy of Randomness: Effectively Teaching How Random Is Relative in High School
By Mark Louie Ramos, The Pennsylvania State University The idea that randomness is relative to the observer is a critical concept in statistical estimation and inference, but it is not typically discussed in K-12 statistics classes, nor in basic undergraduate statistics courses for nonstatistics majors. It is argued that prominently including this concept in statistical … [Read more...] about On the Pedagogy of Randomness: Effectively Teaching How Random Is Relative in High School
Integrating Data Science Practices into Informal Learning: A STEM Summer Camp Approach
By Marc T. Sager, Southern Methodist University; Saki Milton, Southern Methodist University; Candace Walkington, Southern Methodist University; and Anthony J. Petrosino, Southern Methodist University For teachers and practitioners, this paper offers a model for integrating accessible, equity-minded data science activities into informal learning programs. Readers will gain … [Read more...] about Integrating Data Science Practices into Informal Learning: A STEM Summer Camp Approach
Some Paradoxes: Puzzling or Poorly Presented?
By Mark Milanick, University of Missouri, Columbia; Isabella Wiebelt-Smith, Swarthmore College; and William Y. Jin, Swarthmore College This article explores the use of statistical paradoxes—specifically the Will Rogers Phenomenon, Simpson’s Paradox, False Positive Paradox, and the Birthday Problem—as teaching tools for middle and high school students. These paradoxes, often … [Read more...] about Some Paradoxes: Puzzling or Poorly Presented?
ASA/NCTM Joint Committee Members Share Favorite Resources, Ideas
Data-Driven Minds: Prepping Students for a Smarter Future How can teachers design data-centered classrooms to empower their students? What strategies and tools can help increase data literacy and data science in K–12 education? How do teachers bring a focus to data-centered instruction in their math classrooms? How can data science be related to music and cooking? These … [Read more...] about ASA/NCTM Joint Committee Members Share Favorite Resources, Ideas
Editor’s Note: Fall 2025
We are delighted to share the next issue of Statistics Teacher with you. As you dive into a new school year, excited about your upcoming adventures and possibilities in teaching statistics, we hope this issue offers additional ideas, activities, and resources that inspire and support you throughout your statistics teaching journey. In this issue, we share four … [Read more...] about Editor’s Note: Fall 2025
Lesson Plan: Sticky Note Statistics
By Joanne Caniglia, Kent State University Overview of Lesson This set of activities allows students to analyze data from graphs created with sticky notes. Students are asked to estimate a string’s length. Their estimates are put on sticky notes, forming dot and box plots. Following initial estimates and graphs, more estimation exercises are given to students (with strings … [Read more...] about Lesson Plan: Sticky Note Statistics
Lesson Plan: Educational Level Implications on Careers in Statistics (ELICS) for Undergraduate Students
By Christina M. Wood-Wentz, Mayo Clinic, and Heather Cook, University of Southern Indiana Overview of Lesson This career survey course activity is designed to expose undergraduate students to the implications for education level choice and help them plot an educational course that aligns with their work goals. After performing this activity, students will understand how … [Read more...] about Lesson Plan: Educational Level Implications on Careers in Statistics (ELICS) for Undergraduate Students
Lesson Plan: Lizards Task Levels B and C: Teacher Version with Student Version
By Kaycie Maddox and Christine Franklin Overview of Lesson This lesson provides a secondary data set for students to explore to develop understanding of classification, a data science concept, using accessible technology called CODAP. Students will also answer statistical questions used at each of the four phases of the framework for statistical reasoning outlined in … [Read more...] about Lesson Plan: Lizards Task Levels B and C: Teacher Version with Student Version
Lesson Plan: Lizards Task Level A: Teacher Version with Student Version
By Kaycie Maddox and Christine Franklin Overview of Lesson This lesson provides nontraditional data for students to explore with an emphasis on statistical questions used at each of the four phases of the framework for statistical reasoning outlined in the Guidelines for Assessment in Statistics Education (GAISE) II. The use of secondary data on the habitats of … [Read more...] about Lesson Plan: Lizards Task Level A: Teacher Version with Student Version