Probability, Data & Reaction Time
Grades: 4–8 · Time: 40 minutes · Materials: one device per student or pair, this worksheet, pencils.
Learning objectives
- Collect and record repeated measurements.
- Calculate the mean and median of a data set.
- Explain why one very large value (an outlier) pulls the mean above the median.
Lesson steps
- Hook (5 min). Ask: "What score do you think a typical player gets?" Write guesses on the board.
- Play and record (15 min). Each student plays 5 rounds at https://dinosaurgame.fun/embed (or your embedded copy) and writes every score in the table.
- Individual stats (5 min). Students find their own mean and median.
- Class data (10 min). Collect every student's best score on the board. Compute the class mean and median together. Circle the highest score and recompute the mean without it.
- Discuss (5 min). Why did the mean change so much more than the median? Which number better describes a "typical" player?
Student worksheet
Name: ______________________ Date: ____________
| Round | Score |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 4 | |
| 5 |
- My mean score (add all 5, divide by 5): ____________
- My median score (sort the 5, take the middle): ____________
- Class mean of best scores: ____________ Class median: ____________
- Class mean without the highest score: ____________
- Which is a better description of a typical player, the mean or the median? Why?
_____________________________________________________________