Statistics

by Jessica Wesaquate and Andrea Rogers

Grade Level:

Four

Strand:

Number and Operations

Before completing this lesson, have students watch video two on Cassandra
Opikokew, graduate from the University of Regina’s School of Journalism. She
serves as a great Aboriginal role model for students. In the video
and lesson, students will see the connection of mathematics to real life.

Journalists often have to figure out statistics when they are writing
or filming a report. Especially financial reporters. Let's take a look
at Aboriginal statistics from the 2006 census:

The Aboriginal identity population reached 1,172,785 in 2006 of which
53% are Registered Indians, 30% are Métis, 11% are Non-status
Indians and 4% are Inuit. Overall the Aboriginal identity population
represents 4% of the Canadian population.

Since 1996, the Aboriginal population has increased by 47% compared
to 8% for non-Aboriginals.

Eight out of 10 Aboriginal people currently reside in Ontario and the
four Western provinces.

Over half (54%) of Aboriginal people reside in urban areas (81% for
non-Aboriginals).

In major cities, the concentration of Aboriginal people
is highest in Winnipeg (10%) followed by Regina and Saskatoon (9%).

Forty-eight percent of Aboriginal people are less than 25 years old
(31% for non-Aboriginals). The median age of the Aboriginal population
is 27 compared with 40 for non-Aboriginals.

Materials Needed:

video clip, pencils, pencil crayons, graph
paper, looseleaf, Census numbers

Tasks:

Create a circle graph to demonstrate the percentiles of the Aboriginal
identity population.
If overall the Aboriginal identity population represents 4% of the
Canadian population, what percent does the non-Aboriginal population
make up?
How do you determine the median of something?
Create a line graph to demonstrate the increase in population since
1996.

Extension Activity:

Statistics are rich in mathematics and you
can create other questions for your students surrounding the numbers
found in the census. You can also do many other activities with the census
across other areas of the curriculum.

Have students look at what it means to be a 'registered Indian,'
a 'Metis,' and who the Inuit people are.
Have students research the history of First Nations, Metis and Inuit
peoples. Students can make a Venn diagram to demonstrate similarities,
differences and commonalities among the three distinct group of people.

The 2006 Census Aboriginal Demographics can be found online on the Indian
and Northern Affairs web page @ http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/mr/is/cad-eng.asp

Aboriginal Perspectives is supported by the University of
Regina, the Imperial Oil Foundation, the Canadian Mathematical Society and
the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences.