Home›Lesson Plans›Mathematics›Statistics & Probability · Grade 8

Scatter Plots & the Line of Best Fit

Eighth graders learn to read scatter plots — plotting two variables to spot positive, negative, or no correlation — and to draw a line of best fit that models the trend and makes predictions.

Grade 8Statistics50 minutes1 class periodGradual ReleaseExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
Start the Lesson
Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Read a scatter plot.
  • ✓Identify correlation.
  • ✓Draw a line of best fit.
  • ✓Make a prediction.
Essential Question

Do students who study more get higher scores? A scatter plot can show whether two things are related — and let you predict. How do you read the pattern?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Scatter Plot Explorer · Interactive

The Scatter Plot Explorer

Project this and tap each idea. Have students learn to spot positive, negative, and no correlation — and the line of best fit!

📈 Explore scatter plots — tap eachTry it

The Lesson · Gradual Release (I Do · We Do · You Do)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Launch — Study More, Score Higher?

5 min

Do students who study more score higher? How could we see it?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pose a two-variable question.
  • Ask how to show the relationship.
  • Set the goal: scatter plots.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Consider the question.
  • Wonder how.
  • Predict the idea.
2

I Do — Reading the Pattern

10 min

Teacher models.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Plot points (x, y).
  • Spot positive/negative/no correlation.
  • Draw a line of best fit.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Plot points.
  • Spot the trend.
  • Draw the line.
3

We Do — Explore Together

13 min

Class uses the Scatter Plot Explorer.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Tap each idea.
  • Identify the correlation.
  • Use the line to predict.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each.
  • Identify it.
  • Predict.
4

You Do — On Your Own

12 min

Students analyze.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Read scatter plots.
  • Name the correlation.
  • Draw a line and predict.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Read plots.
  • Name it.
  • Predict.
5

Close — Close

5 min

One scatter plot.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a scatter plot.
  • Name the correlation.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Read it.
  • Name it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

CCSS
8.SP.1

Construct and interpret scatter plots for bivariate data.

CCSS
8.SP.2

Know that straight lines model relationships; fit a line of best fit.

CCSS
8.SP.3

Use the equation of a linear model to solve problems.

SMP
MP.4

Model data relationships with scatter plots.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Correlation picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “As ___ goes up, ___ goes ___.”
  • Plot points together.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with clear positive correlation.
  • Use pre-plotted points.
  • Draw the trend together.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Write a line-of-best-fit equation.
  • Identify outliers.
  • Make predictions from the line.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 📈Graph paper
  • 💻The Scatter Plot Explorer
  • 📏Rulers
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

scatter plota graph of points for two variablescorrelationa relationship between two variablespositive correlationboth variables increase togethernegative correlationone increases as the other decreasesno correlationno relationshipline of best fita line modeling the trendbivariate datadata with two variablesoutliera point far from the others
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
If points on a scatter plot trend upward, what kind of correlation is it?
Positive correlation.
QUESTION 2
What is a line of best fit used for?
To model the trend of the data and make predictions.
QUESTION 3
If hours of TV and test scores show a downward trend, what correlation is that?
Negative correlation.

Going deeper? Make a prediction.

Have students draw a line of best fit and use it to predict a value — like the score for someone who studied 5 hours. A printable scatter-plot sheet is in the Math library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Scatter PlotsFlip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Scatter PlotsQuiz
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Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Scatter PlotsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: bivariate data, correlation, line of best fit, negative correlation, no correlation, outlier, positive correlation, scatter plot
  1. no relationship
  2. a relationship between two variables
  3. a point far from the others
  4. a line modeling the trend
  5. both variables increase together
  6. a graph of points for two variables
  7. data with two variables
  8. one increases as the other decreases

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. If points on a scatter plot trend upward, what kind of correlation is it?
  2. What is a line of best fit used for?
  3. If hours of TV and test scores show a downward trend, what correlation is that?
Answer key — Part A: 1) no correlation · 2) correlation · 3) outlier · 4) line of best fit · 5) positive correlation · 6) scatter plot · 7) bivariate data · 8) negative correlation
Part B: 1) Positive correlation. 2) To model the trend of the data and make predictions. 3) Negative correlation.