M.6.DA.DS.3

New in 2026. Reading a display and describing its center, variability and shape.

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Builds on

Where to go for intervention

Grade 6

M.6.DA.DS.2PriorityNewOnce data is collected, students describe it through its displays.Collect and record data with technology to identify and describe the characteristics of data sets. Understand that data can be collected (primary data) or existing data can be obtained from other sources (secondary data).M.6.DA.SP.2Center, spread and shape as the way to describe a distribution.Understand that a set of data collected to answer a statistical question has a distribution which can be described by its center, spread, and overall shape.M.6.DA.SP.3What a measure of center and a measure of variation each tell you.Recognize that a measure of center for a numerical data set summarizes all of its values with a single number, while a measure of variation describes how its values vary with a single number.M.6.DA.SP.4Making dot plots and box plots comes before analyzing them.Display numerical data in plots on a number line, including dot plots, histograms, and box plots.

Grade 5

M.5.DA.DS.3PriorityNewStudents already analyze tables, bar graphs and line plots to support a claim. Grade 6 adds dot plots and box plots, and describes the distribution.Critically analyze data visualizations, including tables, bar graphs, line plots, or spreadsheets to support a claim related to the investigative question. Compare and contrast different data visualizations to determine which transparently communicate results and interpretations.

M.6.DA.DS.3

PriorityNew in 2026

Analyze data visualizations and describe measures of center and variability of quantitative data using appropriate displays (dot plots, boxplots). Describe key features of distributions for the variables including center, variability, and shape.

No Common Core standard maps here

ResourcesWIDAOSPI

WIDA language connections1

Explain · Expressivespeaking, writing and representing

ELD-MA.6-8.Explain.Expressive · Language for Mathematics, Grades 6-8

Construct mathematical explanations that…

Describe data and/or problem solving strategy

OSPI's example connections to the WIDA ELD Standards Framework. How to read these

From OSPI

Washington OER Hub · Free, openly licensed materials for M.6.DA.DS.3

On the SBA

PRISM's read

New in 2026 with no Common Core past, and OSPI lists no interim items. The closest published target is summarizing and describing distributions, so the demand should feel familiar.

OSPI's interim connections

OSPI lists no interim items for this standard.

Smarter Balanced publishes its claims and targets in its content specifications, written to the Common Core. A 2026 standard reaches them through OSPI's crosswalk. Check them before anything official.

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Where it goes next

Grade 6

M.6.DA.DS.4NewWhat a display shows becomes evidence for answering the investigative question.Use statistical evidence from analyses to answer the statistical investigative question and communicate results with comprehensive answers with some teacher guidance.

Grade 7

M.7.DA.DS.3NewInterpreting center and variability continues, now to compare two groups.Identify, determine, and interpret measures of center (mean and median) and measures of variability (range, interquartile range) to answer a statistically investigative question, summarizing the distribution of data using the measures of center and variability. Use reasoning about distributions to compare two groups based on the variables.

Grade 8

M.8.DA.DS.3PriorityNewReading visualizations turns into creating them to support a claim about data.Create data visualizations about a data set. Organize and present the data in appropriate ways, including in tables and scatter plots, and incorporate other relevant information that helps to tell a story and support a claim about the data.

Connects to

Taught alongside it, including its supporting standards.

M.6.DA.SP.5PriorityBoth describe center and variability: DS.3 starts from a display, SP.5 from the data set.Summarize numerical data sets in relation to their context.