Off the scale

This lesson introduces students to the idea of a log scale, a seemingly perplexing way to present data. The lesson begins with an exploration of examples when a linear scale is inappropriate and concludes with a plotting activity using authentic data from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Additional details
Year level(s)	Year 10
Audience	Teacher
Purpose	Teaching resource
Format	Web page
Teaching strategies and pedagogical approaches	Questioning, Culturally responsive pedagogies, Explicit teaching
Keywords	logarithm, log scale, Maths Hub lesson plan
Curriculum alignment
Curriculum connections	Critical and creative thinking, Ethical understanding
Strand and focus	Measurement, Statistics
Topics	Data representation and interpretation
AC: Mathematics (V9.0) content descriptions	AC9M10M02 Interpret and use logarithmic scales in applied contexts involving small and large quantities and change. AC9M10ST01 Analyse claims, inferences and conclusions of statistical reports in the media, including ethical considerations and identification of potential sources of bias
Numeracy progression	Multiplicative strategies (P10) Interpreting and representing data (P8)
Copyright details
Organisation	Commonwealth of Australia
Copyright	© 2024 Commonwealth of Australia. Creative Commons BY 4.0.