U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Skip Header
Activities
Resources
Standards
About
Search data, events, resources, and more
Activities
Bring your classroom to life with real world data. Select an activity that supplements what you are currently teaching in subjects including English, Math, Geography and History.
Activities Overview Math History/Social Studies Geography Sociology
English Home and Distance Learning Activities Grades K - 2 Grades 3 - 5 Grades 6 - 8 Grades 9 - 12
Resources
Increase the data literacy of your students with resources that display data in fun ways. Choose from monthly Fun Facts, 5-Minute Challenge warm-up activities, maps, videos and more.
Apportionment Resources Constitution Day Data Access Tools Fun Facts Games Historical Documents and Images
Kahoot! Games Learn About the Decennial Census Maps Monthly Highlights Videos Visualizations Warm-Up Activities
Standards
Statistics in Schools activities are based on relevant education standards and guidelines that outline the foundational knowledge and skills students should have at certain levels.
Overview Math History
Geography Sociology English
About
Statistics in Schools is a free Census Bureau program that uses the data to create resources for K-12 students in a variety of subjects.
About Us Program Benefits Census 101 for Students
Teacher's Guide to Tools Newsroom Partner with SIS Contact Us
Activities Overview Math History/Social Studies Geography Sociology English Home and Distance Learning Activities Grades K - 2 Grades 3 - 5 Grades 6 - 8 Grades 9 - 12
Apportionment Resources Constitution Day Data Access Tools Fun Facts Games Historical Documents and Images Kahoot! Games Learn About the Decennial Census Maps Monthly Highlights Videos Visualizations Warm-Up Activities
Overview Math History Geography Sociology English
About Us Program Benefits Census 101 for Students Teacher's Guide to Tools Newsroom Partner with SIS Contact Us

Linear Models - Population Growth in Five States

Skip Navigation

Linear Models - Population Growth in Five States

mm15_160

Students will look at decennial census data — in table and graph form — showing population growth trends in five states from 1960 to 2020. Students will also estimate and interpret lines of best fit.

Suggested Grade Level

8

Approximate Time Required

45-60 minutes

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to examine a linear model to estimate the slope and y-intercept.
  • Students will be able to interpret the slope and y-intercept.
  • Students will be able to understand how bivariate data can be simplified to make a linear model.

Materials Required

  • The student version of this activity, 16 pages; it contains images that should be printed in color.
  • Rulers

Calculators are optional.

Activity Items

The following items are part of this activity. Items, their data sources, and any relevant instructions for viewing
the source data online appear at the end of this teacher version.

  • Five States’ Growing Populations by the Numbers: 1960–2020
  • Five States’ Growing Populations in a Graph: 1960–2020

Download Teacher Version
Download Student Version

Teacher Notes

Blooms Taxonomy

Applying
Blooms Taxonomy

Students will apply their understanding of scatter plots and linear models to analyze the features of lines of best fit.

Subject

Middle School Math

Topics

  • Bivariate data
  • Linear equations
  • Linear models
  • Population
  • Rounding
  • Scatter plots
  • Slope
  • y-intercept

Skills Taught

  • Calculating slope
  • Calculating the y-intercept
  • Interpreting slope and y-intercept
  • Working with bivariate data
Page Last Revised - March 6, 2024
✕
Is this page helpful?
Thumbs Up Image Yes Thumbs Down Image No
✕
NO THANKS
255 characters maximum 255 characters maximum reached
✕
Thank you for your feedback.
Comments or suggestions?

Top

Back to Header