6.SP.B.5.C Worksheet: Mean Absolute Deviation — Gr 6 Aligned

This Grade 6 math exit ticket measures student understanding of mean absolute deviation. Students construct a dot plot, calculate the mean absolute deviation, write a statistical question, and predict variability changes. This assessment provides immediate evidence of student mastery of statistical measures of spread.

At a Glance

• Grade: Grade 6 · Subject: Math
• Standard: 6.SP.B.5.C — Summarize numerical data sets by giving quantitative measures of variability like mean absolute deviation.
• Skill Focus: Mean Absolute Deviation & Dot Plots
• Format: 2 pages · 4 problems · Answer key included · PDF
• Best For: Quick formative assessment and exit tickets
• Time: 10–15 minutes

This resource contains a single-page student exit ticket and a complete teacher answer key. The student page features four tasks: a raw data set for a line plot, a calculation prompt for mean absolute deviation, a writing prompt for a statistical question, and a predictive reasoning question.

Mastery Evidence and Task Mapping

Each of the 4 tasks maps to specific cognitive levels of statistical understanding. Task 1 assesses representation skills as students translate raw data into a line plot. Task 2 requires procedural fluency to calculate the mean absolute deviation. Task 3 evaluates conceptual understanding by asking students to write a statistical question. Task 4 demands reasoning as students predict variability changes. Teachers can easily translate these performance tiers into standards-based gradebooks or IEP goals.

Standards Alignment

This resource aligns directly with `CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.SP.B.5.C`, which requires students to summarize numerical data sets by giving quantitative measures of variability like mean absolute deviation. It also supports standard `CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.6.SP.B.4` by requiring students to display numerical data in a line plot. Both standard codes can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum mapping tools.

Classroom Implementation

Use this exit ticket immediately following direct instruction on variability to gauge student understanding. Administer it at the beginning of the next class period as a warm-up to identify common misconceptions. While students work independently for 10 to 15 minutes, circulate to observe if they correctly calculate the mean before finding absolute differences. This formative observation helps target students who need immediate small-group intervention.

Target Audience and Differentiation

This worksheet is designed for Grade 6 students learning about statistical variability. It is highly beneficial for general education classrooms and special education settings requiring targeted skill checks. For students needing extra support, pair this exit ticket with a visual anchor chart detailing the steps to calculate mean absolute deviation. Advanced learners can calculate the interquartile range of the same data set for comparison.

According to research from Fisher & Frey (2014) on checking for understanding, short formative assessments like exit tickets provide critical real-time data that prevents learning gaps from widening. This specific assessment targets standard `6.SP.B.5.C` by requiring students to calculate the mean absolute deviation and represent data on a line plot. By combining procedural calculations with conceptual questions about statistical variability, the worksheet ensures that students do not just memorize formulas but actually comprehend how data points deviate from the center. Using this structured tool helps educators systematically track student progress, adjust daily lesson pacing, and design targeted interventions. The inclusion of a complete answer key allows for rapid grading, making it an efficient resource for busy teachers seeking to improve student outcomes in middle school statistics.