Before the lesson the teacher uses the CensusAtSchool random data selector to download 200 anonymised student records, which contain no names, and puts the height and arm span columns in a shared Google Sheet as the class's population. Each student uses RANDBETWEEN to pick a random sample of 20 rows, calculates the mean height and draws a scatter graph of height against arm span for their sample. They type their sample mean into a class tab, where a chart plots every student's sample mean around the mean of all 200 records. The teacher uses the chart to discuss sampling variability and how far a single sample of 20 can be trusted as an estimate, and pairs finish by writing one sentence interpreting the correlation in their scatter graphs.
Tools: Google Sheets Nine ideas for your own version in Generate
This page is one of a growing set of PICRAT examples by cell, subject and grade. Page maintained by Andy Perryer.