A unit of study that introduces sorting and classification as a way of organizing data is presented. Suitable for students in grades 2 and 3, it provides a foundation for further work in statistics and data analysis. The investigations may extend from one to five class sessions and are grouped into three parts: "Introduction to Sorting"; "Sorting and Classifying Data"; and "Projects in Data Analysis." An overview of the investigation, session activities, dialogue boxes, and teacher notes are included in each investigation. The major goals developed in each part of this guide are: (1) examining differences and similarities of objects or data; (2) decision making; (3) using negative information to clarify the definition of a category; (4) making sketches of data; (5) thinking flexibly about the characteristics of data; (6) articulating logical reasoning; (7) constructing categories to describe data; (8) inventing representations of data; (9) building theories about data; (10) collecting and recording survey data; (11) comparing two data sets; and (12) experiencing the phases of a data analysis investigation. Appended are reproducible student materials, including two sets of cards for developing sorting skills. (KR)
The CAUSE Research Group is supported in part by a member initiative grant from the American Statistical Association’s Section on Statistics and Data Science Education