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Year 3: Materials |
| ICT focus | Data handling |
| Main activity | Creating a database on the properties of materials |
| Suggested resources | Information Magic, Information Workshop, Starting Graph, Excel |
The suggestion is to create a database of kitchen objects, recording the materials from which they are made. Pupils may then graph, search or sort the data to find answers to questions such as:
- Which is the most common material?
- Which object contains metal?
- Which object contains plastic?
- Which objects are used for food or eating?
- Which objects are hard?
- Which objects are heavy?
This could lead to an investigation to match properties with their uses.
Database programs such as Information Workshop enable children to search to find answers to questions such as "Which objects contain plastic?" Where a field contains numeric data, children may sort to answer questions such as "Which is the heaviest / lightest?"
Database graphs show the frequency of entries within the field. They may be used to answer questions such as "Which is the commonest material?" Graphs may be copied and pasted into children's own reports of the investigation.
Points to remember when introducing data handling
- It is important to introduce the children to correct vocabulary such as field, record, database.
- Before collecting data, discuss what data is to be collected. Ask, "What are we trying to find out?"
- After data has been collected, discuss what the database shows. What have we found out? What do the graphs show us?
Kent NGfL project (the olympics) on Information Workshop, with advice on searching and sorting.
