Least Squares Regression with Education Inequality
Lesson Plans
Grades11, 12, APCivics, Mathematics
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Provided by Skew the Script
What it is
- This statistics lesson from Skew the Script uses linear regressions, best-fit lines, y-intercepts, and slopes to evaluate and predict the relationship between two variables.
- Students will learn how to define the explanatory and response variables, calculate residuals, define the line of best fit, discuss correlation vs. causation, and understand the difference between linear equations and linear regressions.
- The primary example discusses the relationship between student attendance and test scores, and additional examples evaluate questions about other topics such as the cost of housing, salaries, vacation days, and health data.
Teaching tips
Positives
- With this lesson, students have real-life situations to apply math concepts, highlighting the utility of these skills.
- Students have a variety of tools available to them to access the content and practice the skills.
Prerequisites
- Teachers will need to create a free account and give some school information to access some of the materials.
- Students should be familiar with linear equations.
- Teachers will need to create a Desmos account to assign the activity and see student responses online, however the answers to the questions are available under Sample Responses when viewing the student preview via the link in the resource.
- Students facing poverty may become uncomfortable discussing this topic. Be mindful of students' emotions when discussing these issues.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Students can discuss how climate change may disproportionately affect low-income communities, due to food and water insecurity, extreme weather events, and extreme heat. Students can talk about how these factors may further the achievement gaps as climate change gets worse.
- Teachers can connect this discussion to the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on Goal 1: No Poverty and Goal 4: Quality Education. If students are unfamiliar with the Sustainable Development Goals, this guide can help teachers get started.
- Students can research other policies and programs that have helped to address some of the other variables connected to poverty and low test scores, such as free and reduced lunches, Head Start, Title 1, and others to determine their efficacy.
From the scientist review
This lesson plan is an introduction to fitting least squares regression lines with a focus on inequality. The included lecture video is clear, and all data in the worksheets and Excel files have sources cited. This lesson highlights the distinction between correlation and causation and provides ample experience in curve fitting. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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