Help Grade 8 students make sense of numerical data with Statistics and Summary Measures, a Computer Science worksheet focused on data and information. Students calculate the mean, median, mode, and range, interpret what each measure reveals, and compare groups using numerical evidence. Rather than relying on a single statistic, they practise selecting appropriate summary measures to describe typical values, variation, and differences between data sets.

From Calculations to Meaningful Conclusions

Students work with ordered numerical data, repeated values, and data sets containing unusually high or low observations. They calculate averages, identify middle values, determine the most frequent value, and find the difference between the largest and smallest values. They also explore how an outlier can influence the mean and why the median may better represent a typical value in some situations.

The accompanying reading passage, Making Sense of Numerical Data, explains each measure and illustrates why two groups with the same mean can still have different distributions. Examples involving students' monthly reading totals and weekly practice times connect statistical calculations to realistic comparisons.

What Students Practise

• Calculate mean, median, mode, and range from numerical data sets.
• Find the median when a data set contains an even number of values.
• Recognise data sets with multiple modes or no mode.
• Explain how outliers can affect the mean and influence interpretation.
• Compare groups using summary measures to identify similarities and differences.
• Support conclusions with numerical evidence and recognise the limitations of relying on one measure.

Activities Included

The worksheet combines an introductory dialogue, a matching activity, a cloze passage, and a labelled diagram with a reading passage and comprehension questions. Students then complete multiple-choice questions, true-or-false statements, short-answer calculations and explanations, and an extended-response task comparing two school clubs' reading data. This progression moves from recognising statistical vocabulary to applying calculations and explaining what the results mean.

What You Receive

• Printable Grade 8 Computer Science worksheet covering statistics and summary measures.
• A separate Teacher Guide PDF containing learning objectives, teaching tips, discussion questions, and common mistakes.

The Teacher Guide provides practical support for introducing the measures, prompting discussion about data interpretation, and addressing common calculation errors. An answer key is not specified among the included extras.

Ways to Use This Resource

Use this data analysis worksheet during a lesson on numerical summaries, for independent practice after introducing descriptive statistics, or as a review of mean, median, mode, and range. The comparison and extended-response tasks also provide opportunities for students to explain their reasoning rather than submit calculations alone. The resource is listed under the general curriculum framework, so teachers can adapt its use to their existing Computer Science data and information sequence.

By connecting numerical procedures with interpretation, this resource gives Grade 8 students structured practice in calculating summary statistics, comparing data sets, and making evidence-based conclusions.