Types of Average and Sampling : “ Household Words ” to Dwell On

Overview of Lesson This lesson is designed to give students more insight into both mathematical and real-world assumptions that can be involved even in what appears to be a simple task: to find the “average household size” for students at their school. The context of this lesson has real-world relevance: it is not only part of the Census at School questionnaire, but is also part of what the Census Bureau regularly estimates. The lesson can efficiently set the tone for better habits of mind and questioning and more precise usage of vocabulary and more explicit awareness of assumptions and possible biases in a broad range of future student work in statistics.