7th GradeSamplingabout 3 minCCSS 7.SP.A.1Understand that statistics can be used to gain information about a population by examining a sample of the population; generalizations about a population from a sample are valid only if the sample is representative of that population. Understand that random sampling tends to produce representative samples and support valid inferences.CCSS 7.SP.A.2Use data from a random sample to draw inferences about a population with an unknown characteristic of interest. Generate multiple samples (or simulated samples) of the same size to gauge the variation in estimates or predictions.+0
Tag 50 fish, catch 50 again, and use the repeats to count a whole pond, then whales and tigers.
Lesson Plan
Explore random sampling by estimating a population with capture–recapture.
Big idea: Pause. Ask a student to say the idea in their own words.
Question: Ask what students spot and what they are curious about. Read “How many fish live in the pond?” aloud. Have each student guess and say why.
Question: Read “More fish than ours, fewer, or the same?” aloud. Have partners explain their guesses to each other.
Big idea: Pause. Have partners explain the idea to each other.
Your turn: Have students try their own. Ask them to predict before they test.
How to run it
Whole classPut the lesson on the board. At each choice the class votes, then you select the winner.
SoloShare the link, QR code, or post to Google Classroom. Each student gets to take their own path.
