Help students connect statistics to real life with this engaging Normal Distribution activity focused on one topic every student can relate to: sleep!

In this project-based resource, students research the importance of sleep for teenagers and explore the academic, emotional, and physical effects of sleep deprivation. After analyzing recommended sleep guidelines, students create and model data using a normal distribution to determine the probability that students are getting enough sleep each night.

Students will:

• Research the importance of sleep and the effects of sleep deprivation
• Interpret real-world statistics related to teen sleep habits
• Create a normal distribution model using meaningful data
• Calculate probabilities using z-scores and the normal curve
• Analyze and interpret results in context
• Draw conclusions about the likelihood of students meeting recommended sleep requirements

This activity is perfect for:

• Algebra 2
• Precalculus
• AP Statistics
• Introductory Statistics courses

This resource helps students see that normal distributions are more than just formulas—they are powerful tools for understanding real-world trends and making informed conclusions.