I delivered this data analysis lesson to a Grade 6/7 class during my final practicum at South Sahali Elementary School. My objective was to introduce and review median, mode, and range—concepts students had encountered in previous years—through an active, problem-solving approach. Each student received a double-sided card featuring a blue number on one side and a pink number on the other. After a brief conceptual overview, the class was challenged to find the median, mode, and range for the blue data set, and then the pink. I encouraged them to collaborate and move around the room, providing the strategic hint that ordering the numbers sequentially would aid their analysis.

To deepen their understanding, I then divided the class into four groups. Using a mix of their pink and blue numbers, teams were tasked with creating data sets that had a median, mode and range as close to the target values as possible.  Because some target numbers were mathematically impossible to achieve with the available data, the activity created a low-stakes, low-pressure environment. This allowed students to focus on the mathematical process and collaborative problem-solving rather than just searching for a single “correct” answer.