Survey Statistics Persuasion Lab ✨ cross-curricular
Teacher: Demo Teacher | Grade: 5 | Subject: Reading/ELA, Math | Duration: 60 minutes
📝 Description: Students analyze survey data by creating graphs and writing persuasive paragraphs that incorporate statistical evidence to support their arguments.
Standards
- 5.MD.B.2 - Make a line plot to display a data set and use operations on fractions to solve problems involving information presented in line plots
- W.5.1.B - Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details
- W.5.1.C - Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses
- 5.NBT.A.3 - Read, write, and compare decimals to thousandths
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Create accurate bar graphs and calculate percentages from survey data
- Identify the strongest statistical evidence to support a persuasive argument
- Write topic sentences that clearly state their opinion with numerical support
- Compose body sentences using transition words to connect statistics to reasoning
- Conclude persuasive paragraphs by restating their position with data summary
Materials Needed
- Graph paper (1 sheet per student)
- Computers or tablets (1 per student for final writing)
- Pre-made survey data handouts (sample: "School Lunch Preferences" with 100 student responses)
- Calculators (1 per pair)
- Persuasive writing anchor chart
- Colored pencils or markers for graphs
Lesson Structure
Opening (5 minutes)
Display survey results showing "Should our school have longer recess?" (Yes: 78, No: 22). Ask: "If you wanted to convince the principal to give us longer recess, which number would you use? Why?" Introduce today's mission: "We'll become data detectives who use math to write powerful persuasive arguments."
Main Activity (50 minutes)
Step-by-step instructions:
- Data Analysis (10 minutes): Distribute "School Lunch Preferences" survey data. Students work in pairs to calculate percentages for each option (Pizza: 35%, Tacos: 28%, Burgers: 22%, Salad: 15%). Model the first calculation: "35 out of 100 students chose pizza. 35÷100 = 0.35 = 35%."
- Graph Creation (12 minutes): Using graph paper, students create bar graphs with proper titles, labels, and scales. Circulate to ensure accurate scaling and neat presentation. Graphs should include both raw numbers and percentages.
- Evidence Selection (8 minutes): Each student chooses which lunch option to advocate for and identifies their three strongest pieces of statistical evidence. Provide sentence starters: "The majority of students (___%) prefer..." or "Nearly one-third of respondents chose..."
- Paragraph Planning (10 minutes): Students outline their persuasive paragraphs using the structure: Topic sentence with main statistic, two supporting detail sentences with additional data, concluding sentence restating position. Review transition words: "Furthermore," "Additionally," "According to the data."
- Digital Writing (10 minutes): Students type their persuasive paragraphs on computers, embedding at least three specific statistics. Encourage varied sentence structures and precise mathematical language like "more than double" or "three times as popular."
Closing (5 minutes)
Students share one compelling statistic from their paragraph with a partner. Highlight how numbers make arguments more convincing than opinions alone.
Quick Check: "What percentage supported your lunch choice? What transition word did you use to connect your evidence? How did statistics strengthen your argument?"
Formative Assessment
During the lesson, look for:
- Accurate percentage calculations and properly scaled bar graphs with clear labels
- Strategic selection of the most compelling statistical evidence to support their position
- Effective integration of numerical data within complete, persuasive sentences using appropriate transitions
Differentiation Strategies
Support for Struggling Students:
- Provide calculator support and pre-written sentence frames: "___% of students chose ___ because..."
- Offer simplified data sets with round numbers (25%, 50%, 75%) for easier calculation
- Allow partnership support for graph creation and paragraph planning
Challenge for Advanced Learners:
- Calculate additional statistics like ratios, differences between top choices, and create multiple graph types
- Write multi-paragraph arguments addressing counterarguments with statistical rebuttals
- Research and incorporate external statistics about school lunch trends nationwide
ELL/ELD Support:
- Pre-teach key vocabulary: percentage, majority, survey, data, evidence with visual supports
- Provide bilingual math terminology cards and allow native language planning before English writing
- Offer audio recording option for paragraph sharing instead of written-only format