Grade 6 Math Lesson Plan: Mean, Median, Mode and Range

Learning Objectives

• Find the mean as a "fair share" and calculate it (total ÷ number of values).
• Find the median of an odd or even number of values.
• Find the mode and the range of a data set.
• Explain how an outlier affects the mean, median and range.
• Choose the measure of center that best describes a data set and justify the choice.

Lesson Procedure

• Read the overview and success criteria before teaching.
• Lesson 1 — Mean as a fair share (50 min): follow the stage table (warm-up, teach, practice, exit ticket).
• Lesson 2 — Median, mode and range (50 min): follow the stage table (warm-up, teach, practice, exit ticket).
• Lesson 3 — Outliers and choosing the best measure (50 min): follow the stage table (warm-up, teach, practice, exit ticket).
• Use the matching PowerPoint, worksheet and assessment from this pack — the plan refers to their slide and part numbers.

Assessment

Exit tickets in each lesson. Worksheet Parts A–E with the answer key. Quick Quiz (10 marks) after lesson 2. Unit Test (18 marks) at the end. Homework after each lesson. Performance task (rubric): "Class Survey" — collect data, make a dot plot, find all four measures and explain which is most useful.

Differentiation

Support: Use cube towers for every mean question. Challenge: Find a missing value: the mean of 4 numbers is 6; three of them are 5, 7 and 4. Find the fourth. English language learners: Teach "fair share", "middle", "most often" and "spread" with gestures.

Classroom Activity Ideas

• Level the Towers (12 minutes, Groups of 4): Each student builds a tower showing how many brothers + sisters + pets they have (or a number card). The group levels the towers by moving cubes.
• Human Median (10 minutes, Whole class): Give 7 (then 8) students a number card. They stand in order of their numbers.
• Which Measure? Corners (8 minutes, Whole class): Read a situation (e.g. "the most popular lunch"). Students walk to the best corner.

Teacher Tips

Start every lesson by asking "What does this number TELL us?" Keep cube towers available all unit — "fair share" is the strongest image for the mean.

What's Included

• 4-page lesson plan (PDF + editable DOCX)
• Lesson 1 — Mean as a fair share (50 min)
• Lesson 2 — Median, mode and range (50 min)
• Lesson 3 — Outliers and choosing the best measure (50 min)
• Key vocabulary table, materials list and success criteria
• Differentiation (support, challenge, English language learners)
• Common misconceptions with fixes, and teacher tips

Additional Files

• Grade 6 Math Lesson Plan: Mean, Median, Mode and Range (DOCX)

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