Measures of Central Tendency and Rolling Dice

Warm-Up

Select all 6 dice below and click "Randomise" at the bottom of the Polypad to roll the dice.

Calculate the mean, median, mode and range of the 6 numbers rolled.

Make A Prediction

Before you roll again, predict the mean, median, mode and range of the numbers that will show up on the dice. Write down your prediction. Now, roll again.

How many did you predict correctly? Try it a few more times and see if you can improve your prediction.

Imagine you win a prize if you correctly predict ONLY ONE of the mean, median, mode, or range for these 6 dice. Which one would you select and what would your prediction be? Roll the dice again and see how you do! Did you win the prize?

100 Dice

You now have 100 dice to roll! You also win a prize if you correctly predict only 1 of the mean, median, mode, or range correct. Which one would you select and what would your prediction be? Roll the dice below and see how you do! Good luck!

Teaching Ideas

Individually, or in small groups, invite students to predict the mean, median, mode, and range for 6 dice. Consider rolling the 6 dice first and then calculating the mean, median, mode, and range if you think your students might benefit from an example before making a prediction. After students have made their prediction, project a Polypad canvas with 6 dice and roll them. Students should then calculate the mean, median, mode, and range for the 6 dice and share with the class how many they predicted correctly.

Before playing again, invite students to share their original predictions and how they may have changed them for round 2. Play a few more times. If you want to make a game out of it, award groups 1 point for each measure they correctly predict. Discuss with students which measure they find easier to predict. Consider some of the following:

• Rather than rolling all 6 at once, roll 1 die at a time to build the drama and excitement of the activity. With 1 die left to roll, invite students to share what number they hope comes up and why.
• After rolling 3 dice, invite students to change some of their predictions as they like. Invite students to share with the class how they changed their predictions.

As described above, ask students to only predict 1 of the mean, median, mode, and range and encourage them to predict the one they feel most confident in. Invite them to share the reasoning behind the predictions.

Finally, project the canvas with 100 dice and again ask students to only predict 1 of the mean, median, mode, and range and encourage them to predict the one they feel most confident in. Invite them to share the reasoning behind the predictions. Roll the dice and see how students did with their predictions.