Statistics: How many are we?
View Sequence overviewWe can ask more questions about our class. The questions that we ask shape the data that is collected.
Task
In this sequence, we used the following process:
- Collecting data
- Recording and analysing data
- Making predictions
Follow this process to continue this statistical investigation with the students. Each day, ask How many are in our class today?.
Look at how the data changes from day to day. Discuss why the data may be different from one day to the next.
Look back at the data collected over a week, two weeks, or a month. Discuss with the students how the data changed over time.
Daily data routines
Informal statistical investigation can become part of the class’s daily routine, in response to any question. Some examples include recording daily data on the weather, or who brought fruit in their lunchbox each day. The act of collecting data on how many students are present each day, can also be part of a daily routine. The number will change throughout the week, month and term. It provides opportunity for students to not only practice counting, but to think about why there may be fewer/more people on any day.
Each day, as students propose reasons for this, they are considering the story behind the change in the numbers. Over time this develops the idea that they we can collect and analyse data to answer questions.
Informal statistical investigation can become part of the class’s daily routine, in response to any question. Some examples include recording daily data on the weather, or who brought fruit in their lunchbox each day. The act of collecting data on how many students are present each day, can also be part of a daily routine. The number will change throughout the week, month and term. It provides opportunity for students to not only practice counting, but to think about why there may be fewer/more people on any day.
Each day, as students propose reasons for this, they are considering the story behind the change in the numbers. Over time this develops the idea that they we can collect and analyse data to answer questions.
The same process can be used for other statistical investigations:
- Collecting data
- Recording and analysing data
- Making predictions
Some other ideas for further investigations include:
- Who are we?
- How big are our feet?
- What colour are our eyes?
- How did we get to school?
- What’s in our lunchbox?
- What is our favourite…?
- What is our favourite book?
- What is our favourite free play activity?