A starter on calculating the mean for Year 6 maths. Pupils average small data sets like goals of 2, 4 and 3, then pocket money over four weeks, before two thinking tasks: explaining why the mean can mislead for weather data, and finding a missing fourth number when the mean of four numbers is 6. Fully worked solutions included. Matched to the England National Curriculum mean objective.
Statistics
“Calculate and interpret the mean as an average.”
The sheet covers both halves: calculating it and questioning when it is useful.
Short data sets with working space, including £3, £5, £2 and £6 of pocket money.
Why the mean might not suit weather data, plus a missing-number mean problem.
Fully worked solutions.
Lesson starter
The quick calculations open a statistics lesson in ten minutes.
Reasoning practice
The weather question moves pupils from computing the mean to judging it.
Stretch task
The missing-number problem asks pupils to run the mean backwards.
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