The mean: what children learn
Year 6 pupils calculate and interpret the mean as an average. To find the mean, add all the values and divide by how many values there are.
In this game children find the mean of small data sets, and work backwards from a mean to a total. Every mean is a whole number, so children can focus on the method.
This topic covers the Year 6 statutory requirement in the National Curriculum in England (Statistics): pupils should be taught to “calculate and interpret the mean as an average”. Year 6 pupils are usually aged 10–11.
For families following US standards, the closest Common Core standard is 6.SP.B.5.c, which is taught in Grade 6.
How to play
Answer 10 questions before the clock runs out. Tap an answer, or press 1 to 4. Each game has 10 multiple-choice questions and a 150-second timer. A wrong answer shows the correct one before moving on. You earn up to three stars depending on your score.
Step by step
- Add all the values. For 4, 6 and 8, the total is 18.
- Count the values. There are 3 values.
- Divide the total by the count. 18 ÷ 3 = 6. The mean is 6.
- Check it is sensible. The mean must be between the smallest and largest values.
Worked examples
Example 1: What is the mean of 4, 6 and 8?
Working: 4 + 6 + 8 = 18. 18 ÷ 3 = 6.
Answer: 6
Example 2: What is the mean of 1, 9, 2 and 8?
Working: 1 + 9 + 2 + 8 = 20. 20 ÷ 4 = 5.
Answer: 5
Example 3: 5 children have a mean score of 10. What is their total score?
Working: Mean × number of values = total. 10 × 5 = 50.
Answer: 50
Common mistakes and how to fix them
- Dividing by the wrong number, often forgetting a zero in the data. Count every value, including zeros, before dividing.
- Giving the total instead of the mean. Remember there are two steps: add, then divide.
- Confusing the mean with the middle value. The middle value is the median. The mean uses every value.
Activities to try at home
- Find the mean number of goals your team scored over its last few matches.
- Measure everyone's hand span and find the mean.
- Ask: if the mean of three numbers is 5, what could the numbers be?
Ideas for the classroom
- Pupils make towers of cubes and level them out to show the mean physically.
- Give a mean and a count and ask pupils to invent a data set that fits.
- Discuss when the mean is a fair average and when an outlier makes it misleading.
Free printable game and worksheet
The free printable starts with a game sheet, such as a colour-by-answer picture, an answer maze or a secret-code joke, followed by a worksheet. Both use the same checked questions as the online game, and the answers are on the last page. Print it, or save it as a PDF from your browser’s print menu.
Open the free printable game and worksheet
Frequently asked questions
Why is the mean useful?
It gives one number that represents a whole set of data, so groups of different sizes can be compared fairly.
Do children learn the median and mode in Year 6?
The National Curriculum names only the mean in Year 6. The median and mode usually come at secondary school.
Can it be played with a keyboard?
Yes. Press 1, 2, 3 or 4 to choose an answer.