All Hands on Deck

	Historical Background on Frigates USS Constitution is a 44-gun frigate constructed between 1794 and 1797. The modern U.S. Navy continues to have a class of ships called frigates (although they are very different from the frigates of the early Federal period). For more information, go to www.ussconstitutionmuseum.org, and www.ussconstitution.navy.mil.

Objectives
After completing this lesson, students will be able to:

	1.	Apply skills on finding the range, median, mode and mean to a real-life situation.
	2.	Construct and interpret stem-and-leaf plots.

Massachusetts Math Curriculum Frameworks

	•	6.D.1 Describe and compare data sets using the concepts of median, mean, mode, maximum and minimum and range.
	•	6.D.2 Construct and interpret stem-and-leaf plots.

Materials

	•	Table (pdf): Frigate Crews
	•	Table (pdf): For Richer or Poorer
	•	Worksheet (pdf): US Navy Frigate Crews circa 1800
	•	Worksheet (pdf): US Navy Frigate Crews circa 2000

Procedure

Briefly describe USS Constitution and the fact that she is a type of ship called a frigate built around 1800. Tell them that they are going to use math to help them learn a little more about the Ship.

Review the methods of calculating mean, median, mode and range. Also review how to create a stem-and-leaf plot.

Give each student a "Frigate Crews" and "For Richer or Poorer" table and the "US Navy Frigate Crews circa 1800" worksheet. Have them answer the worksheet questions using the tables as reference. For homework, distribute the "US Navy Frigate Crews circa 2000 " worksheet and remind students to bring home the "Frigate Crews" table to use as a reference.

Evaluation and Analysis
When grading a student's work, consider the following:

Does the student display the necessary knowledge and mathematical skills to calculate the range, median, mode and mean and to construct and interpret stem-and-leaf plots?

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