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The Case of the Missing Cake

Data Detective

It was Sam’s birthday so his grandmother baked him a cake to share with his classmates at lunchtime. Everyone was excited. All morning the children could smell the delicious chocolate cake. It made it very difficult to concentrate. Hohepa asked if they could have lunch early. Ling was caught ‘sniffing’ the cake. Ms Royal, the teacher decided everyone should go outside for a run before lunch. When they got back the cake was gone. All that was left were a few crumbs and a muddy footprint.

What can we find out about the cake thief to help narrow the search?

Level 4

Achievement Objectives

  • Level 4
    • S4-1 Plan and conduct investigations using the statistical enquiry cycle
      • B gathering, sorting, and displaying multivariate category, measurement, and time-series data to detect patterns, variations, relationships, and trends
      • C comparing distributions visually

Key Ideas

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Key Competencies

  • Relating to others
    • Debate solutions
  • Thinking
    • Make decisions
    • Make deductions
  • Using language, symbols and texts
    • Explore different representations

Resources

Author

Joanne Woodward

Last revised

Lisa Gilmore and Richard Mackrory (June 2008)

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