Stem and Leaf Plots
Mystery Detective Worksheets · Grades 4–6 · Median Mode Range
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Inside the case file
Stem and leaf plots worksheets, data analysis activities and median, mode and range practice for 4th grade, 5th grade and 6th grade are all included in this set of ten Mini Mystery Detective set of math cases. Students read a stem and leaf plot, answer twenty clues about the data, and use every answer to cross a suspect off the list until only the villain is left. Perfect for math centers, early finishers, morning work, sub plans, homework and test prep, and completely no prep - just print and go.
What's Inside
- Reading a value straight off a plot using the key: stem 4 with leaf 7 means 47
- Reading a plot where the stem is two digits: stem 12 with leaf 4 means 124
- Counting the values in a stem row: how many results were in the 30s, the 40s, the 70s
- Finding the greatest and the least value in a data set
- Working out the range of a whole data set
- Finding the mode - the value that appears most often
- Finding the median value of a data set shown on a plot
- Comparing values against a number: how many are greater than 45, how many are less than 29
- Ordering data: the 3rd greatest value, the 2nd least value
- Spotting repeated values in a data set
- Counting the total number of results on a plot
Ten detective cases to solve: The Reading Log, The Ticket Stall Job, The Spelling Scores, The Fun Run File, The Bird Count Case, The Bike Ride File, The Plant Pot Puzzle, The Rock Pool Count, The Bus Route Riddle and The Jigsaw Box Case. Every case has its own data set and its own suspect list, and a red answer key is included for all ten.
Built-In Differentiation
The cases climb. The first case only asks students to read the plot and count, the next adds the range, then the mode, then the median, and the data sets grow as they go. The last two cases move up to three-digit data, where the stem itself is two digits. Struggling students can start at case one and stop wherever they need to; students who are ready can go straight to the later cases.
What is a Mini Mystery Detective?
A no-prep detective activity where students solve math problems to cross off suspects and unmask the culprit. Skill practice plus critical thinking in one engaging, self-checking worksheet set. Because every correct answer removes exactly one suspect, students know straight away when something has gone wrong - and they go back and fix it themselves.
When to Use This Resource
- Math centers and stations
- Morning work and warm-ups
- Early finishers
- Emergency sub plans
- Homework and independent practice
- Data and graphing unit review or test prep
- Small group and intervention work
Grade Levels
Designed for 4th, 5th and 6th graders working through a data and graphing unit. The early cases suit 4th grade reading and counting, and the later cases carry the median, mode and range work and the three-digit plots that 6th grade statistics needs. Also beneficial for struggling 7th graders who need the skill retaught, and for advanced 3rd graders ready to read a plot with a key.
Why Teachers Love Mystery Detectives
- Ten cases, enough for a whole data and graphing unit
- Zero prep - print and hand out
- Self-checking, so students catch their own mistakes
- The detective hook keeps the whole class working
- Real skill practice, not a coloring page
- Answer keys included for every case
- Black and white printing, so they are cheap to run off
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