Measures of Center & Spread Worksheet | Grade 6 Printable

This Grade 6 math worksheet provides targeted practice on statistics and data analysis, focusing on measures of center and variability. Students construct box-and-whisker plots, calculate five-number summaries, and interpret data distributions. This resource helps learners analyze data sets and choose appropriate statistical measures for real-world scenarios.

At a Glance

• Grade: 6 · Subject: Math
• Standard: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.SP.A.3 — Recognize that a measure of center summarizes values with a single number.
• Skill Focus: Measures of Center and Spread
• Format: 3 pages · 7 problems · Answer key included · PDF
• Best For: Formative assessment and independent practice
• Time: 20–30 minutes

This resource includes three pages of structured statistics practice divided into distinct sections. Students encounter task types including drawing box-and-whisker plots, calculating interquartile ranges, matching statistical vocabulary, and answering short-response analytical questions. A complete answer key is provided to ensure quick grading.

• Guided practice: The worksheet begins with a structured template for drawing a box-and-whisker plot, providing labeled number lines and specific boxes for the five-number summary to support initial understanding.
• Supported practice: Students transition to calculating minimums, maximums, medians, and quartiles from raw data sets, with helpful reminders to order the data first.
• Independent practice: The final section challenges learners to match vocabulary terms, identify the impact of outliers, and interpret the consistency of scores between two different classes based on their interquartile ranges.

This gradual-release approach follows an I Do, We Do, You Do model to build statistical fluency.

Aligned to primary standard CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.SP.A.3: Recognize that a measure of center for a numerical data set summarizes all of its values with a single number, while a measure of variation describes how its values vary with a single number. It also supports CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.SP.B.4 by requiring students to display numerical data in box plots. Both standard codes can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum mapping tools.

Deploy this worksheet as an exit ticket after direct instruction on data distributions to gauge immediate student comprehension. Alternatively, assign it as a comprehensive homework task or review activity before a unit test. While students work, observe whether they remember to order their data sets from least to greatest before attempting to find the median or quartiles—a common point of friction. Expected completion time is 20 to 30 minutes.

This resource is designed for sixth-grade math students mastering introductory statistics. The structured formatting and explicit hints make it accessible for students who need additional scaffolding, while the final challenge question provides rigor for advanced learners. Pair this worksheet with a visual anchor chart detailing the steps to find a five-number summary for maximum instructional impact.

Mastering statistics requires students to move beyond simple calculations and develop a conceptual understanding of data distribution. According to EdReports 2024, high-quality instructional materials must provide explicit opportunities for students to connect visual data representations with numerical summaries. This worksheet directly supports that pedagogical goal by requiring students to recognize that a measure of center summarizes values with a single number, directly aligned with CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.SP.A.3. By integrating box-and-whisker plot construction with vocabulary matching and outlier analysis, the resource ensures students do not just memorize formulas, but actually understand how data behaves. Regular practice with these varied task types builds the analytical stamina required for advanced middle school mathematics and high school statistics courses, ensuring learners are fully prepared for future academic challenges.