Maths

Higher GCSE Frequency Diagrams Unit Overview KS4

About This Unit Lessons
This unit is designed to equip KS4 pupils with the skills required to 1. Drawing Histograms
analyse and compare histograms, cumulative frequency diagrams and 2. Interpreting Histograms
box plots. The unit includes an assessment pack and a knowledge
3. Drawing and Interpreting Cumulative Frequency Diagrams
organiser for revision.
4. Finding Quartiles
5. Drawing and Interpreting Box Plots
6. Finding Averages from Histograms
Knowledge Organiser (Optional)
Assessment

Lesson Pack 1: Drawing Histograms

Included in this Pack Learning Objectives Topics Covered Main Pupil Activities
Lesson Presentation To draw accurate histograms from data presented • Calculating frequency density and class width. Starter: Pupils are introduced to the idea of
Teaching Ideas in a table. • Understanding that the area of a bar represents frequency density and class width by identifying
frequency. the difference between a histogram and bar chart.
Activity Sheet
• Drawing and labelling an accurate histogram. Main: Pupils build on this knowledge and work
through exam-style questions asking them to
complete tables and draw histograms.
National Curriculum Aims Notes Plenary: The questions address common mistakes
Construct and interpret diagrams for grouped You may wish to hand out the activity sheet with and misconceptions about histograms.
discrete data and continuous data, i.e. histograms the starter.
with equal and unequal class intervals and
cumulative frequency graphs, and know their
appropriate use.

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 Higher GCSE Frequency Diagrams Unit Overview KS4
Lesson Pack 2: Interpreting Histograms
Included in this Pack Learning Objectives Topics Covered Main Pupil Activities
Lesson Presentation To interpret data from a histogram. • Calculating frequency from a histogram. Starter: A refresher so that pupils can see the key
Teaching Ideas • Identifying the modal group. features of a histogram.

Activity Sheet • Estimating proportions of data not given directly Main: Pupils are shown examples of how to find
by using the histogram. the frequency from the data in a histogram, with
a focus on ensuring that pupils use the scales on
the axes correctly.
National Curriculum Aims Notes Plenary: Pupils solve a more complex contextual
Interpret, analyse and compare the distributions problem involving a histogram.
of data sets from univariate empirical distributions
through: appropriate graphical representation
involving discrete, continuous and grouped data,
including box plots.

Lesson Pack 3: Drawing and Interpreting Cumulative Frequency Diagrams

Included in this Pack Learning Objectives Topics Covered Main Pupil Activities
Lesson Presentation To draw and read information from cumulative • Finding the cumulative frequency. Starter: Pupils look at the differences between a
Teaching Ideas frequency diagrams. • Drawing accurate axes and a smooth curve for a frequency diagram and a cumulative frequency
cumulative frequency diagram. diagram.
Activity Sheet
• Estimating the maximum, minimum and median Main: Pupils start by completing the table with a
values from a cumulative frequency diagram. cumulative frequency column. They ensure that
they plot the points at the maximum of each band
National Curriculum Aims Notes and learn to look closely at the symbols to identify

Construct and interpret diagrams for grouped the limits of each group.

discrete data and continuous data, i.e. histograms Plenary: Pupils are asked to interpret a give
with equal and unequal class intervals and cumulative frequency diagram.
cumulative frequency graphs, and know their
appropriate use.

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 Higher GCSE Frequency Diagrams Unit Overview KS4
Lesson Pack 4: Finding Quartiles
Included in this Pack Learning Objectives Topics Covered Main Pupil Activities
Lesson Presentation To estimate the quartiles of data from a cumulative • To find the total frequency and estimate the Starter: A refresher so that pupils can see the key
Teaching Ideas frequency diagram. median. features of a histogram.

Activity Sheet • To estimate the upper and lower quartiles and Main: Pupils are shown examples of how to find
understand what they mean. the frequency from the data in a histogram, with
National Curriculum Aims • To estimate the interquartile range. a focus on ensuring that pupils use the scales on
Interpret, analyse and compare the distributions the axes correctly.
of data sets from univariate empirical distributions
Notes
Plenary: Pupils solve a more complex contextual
through: appropriate graphical representation Notes
problem involving a histogram.
involving discrete, continuous and grouped data, This lesson is built upon in the next lesson where
including box plots, appropriate measures of pupils use the information to draw box plots.
central tendency (median, mean, mode and modal
class) and spread (range, including consideration
of outliers, quartiles and inter-quartile range).

Lesson Pack 5: Drawing and Interpreting Box Plots

Included in this Pack Learning Objectives Topics Covered Main Pupil Activities
Lesson Presentation To draw and interpret box plots. • Drawing box plots from a cumulative frequency Starter: A recap of how to find the quartiles and
Teaching Ideas diagram. what they mean, using small data sets.

Activity Sheet • Drawing box plots from a given data set. Main: Pupils learn to draw a box plot from a
• Using box plots to form conclusions about a cumulative frequency diagram. They look at
National Curriculum Aims data set. examples of box plots and learn how to comment
Interpret, analyse and compare the distributions on them using keywords.
of data sets from univariate empirical distributions Plenary: Challenge pupils to think about the
through: appropriate graphical representation Notes limitations of box plots. What information do they
involving discrete, continuous and grouped data, help us to see and what is missing?
including box plots, appropriate measures of
central tendency (median, mean, mode and modal
class) and spread (range, including consideration
of outliers, quartiles and inter-quartile range).

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 Higher GCSE Frequency Diagrams Unit Overview KS4
Lesson Pack 6: Finding Averages from Histograms
Included in this Pack Learning Objectives Topics Covered Main Pupil Activities
Lesson Presentation To calculate averages from a histogram. • Finding averages from grouped data. Starter: Pupils practise finding the mean, mode
Teaching Ideas • Finding midpoints and frequencies from a and median in a more familiar way by using a
histogram. simple data set.
Activity Sheet
Main: Pupils start by finding averages in a table,
National Curriculum Aims then move on to finding the necessary information
Interpret, analyse and compare the distributions from a diagram.
of data sets from univariate empirical distributions Plenary: The plenary asks pupils to think about the
through: appropriate graphical representation Notes process of finding this information.
involving discrete, continuous and grouped data, Pupils may benefit from breaking this into distinct
including box plots, appropriate measures of parts, e.g. finding the mean and then finding modal
central tendency (median, mean, mode and modal and median groups separately.
class) and spread (range, including consideration
of outliers, quartiles and inter-quartile range).

Optional: Higher GCSE Frequency Diagrams Knowledge Organiser

This sheet could be provided as a home learning activity or as part of a pupil-led revision lesson.

Assessment
Assess your pupils’ understanding of the topics covered in this scheme of work.

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