Understanding Data Science
In this activity, students will be introduced to data science through a fun, hands-on activity where they will categorize and collect items based on a specific category (e.g., different stages of a plant life cycle, artifacts from the Civil War time period, etc.) and present their findings to the class.
While this activity can be introduced anytime throughout the school year, you can also repeat this activity with any topic that you are teaching. You can ask students to write a list, take pictures of, draw, or collect images from the internet for a specific topic you are learning about in school at the time.
Materials
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Collecting Data Worksheet
https://docs.google.com/document/d/13W9Elj-54HxzdRm6u3kqeta2AAXn-aqYtQS2k1rLTLY/edit?usp=sharing -
Presenting My Data Worksheet
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iYwfRRPoCQnQ6xbS60AcrhwPxlUyEsH9Sug4qp3YbLY/edit?tab=t.0
Main Lesson Plan
- Assign students to collect data on items within the classroom (e.g., count how many blue items they can find, write down all the items you see in the classroom that start with the letter “c”, or something relevant to what you are learning in class – if you are a science teacher, maybe they count how many of each type of beaker/container you have on the tables, etc).
- Collecting Data Worksheet
- They can collect this data in a variety of ways such as taking pictures, writing it down as a list, and finding pictures online to reflect what they saw in the classroom. Pick one way for the whole class for each time you run this activity.
- Students will create a simple chart or list to present their data to the class, ensuring they explain how they collected it.
- Use the Presenting My Data sheet to allow students to share what they learned about their data, how they grouped their data, or any other findings they had about the data collected.
- Assign students to collect data on items within the classroom (e.g., count how many blue items they can find, write down all the items you see in the classroom that start with the letter “c”, or something relevant to what you are learning in class – if you are a science teacher, maybe they count how many of each type of beaker/container you have on the tables, etc).
- Collecting Data Worksheet
- They can collect this data in a variety of ways such as taking pictures, writing it down as a list, and finding pictures online to reflect what they saw in the classroom. Pick one way for the whole class for each time you run this activity.
- Students will create a simple chart or list to present their data to the class, ensuring they explain how they collected it.
- Use the Presenting My Data sheet to allow students to share what they learned about their data, how they grouped their data, or any other findings they had about the data collected.
- Assign students to collect data on items within the classroom (e.g., count how many blue items they can find, write down all the items you see in the classroom that start with the letter “c”, or something relevant to what you are learning in class – if you are a science teacher, maybe they count how many of each type of beaker/container you have on the tables, etc).
- Collecting Data Worksheet
- They can collect this data in a variety of ways such as taking pictures, writing it down as a list, and finding pictures online to reflect what they saw in the classroom. Pick one way for the whole class for each time you run this activity.
- Students will create a simple chart or list to present their data to the class, ensuring they explain how they collected it.
- Use the Presenting My Data sheet to allow students to share what they learned about their data, how they grouped their data, or any other findings they had about the data collected.
Tips for Running Activity
- For younger kids, encourage students to pick tangible items – eg, if they are counting how many blue items in the classroom, have them draw or write down each item, don’t just have them tally counts. This will give students more information on the data they are collecting for when they present it.
- Key Points for helping run this activity:
- Defining Data Science: Data science involves collecting and analyzing information to help make decisions.
- Real-World Examples: Data science is used in everyday life, such as counting how many apples are in a basket or finding out which ice cream flavor is the favorite among friends.
- Collecting Good Data: Good data is accurate and specific. For example, counting all the red toys in the classroom instead of just “toys.”
- Using Tools: We can use tools like pictures or lists to collect data.
- Data Analysis: After collecting data, we can look at it to see patterns and make decisions.
- As students begin to work with data and understand the components of Data Science, be sure to help cultivate data curiosity while they explore and play with the data they collect
- For younger kids, encourage students to pick tangible items – eg, if they are counting how many blue items in the classroom, have them draw or write down each item, don’t just have them tally counts. This will give students more information on the data they are collecting for when they present it.
- Key Points for helping run this activity:
- Defining Data Science: Data science involves collecting and analyzing information to help make decisions.
- Real-World Examples: Data science is used in everyday life, such as counting how many apples are in a basket or finding out which ice cream flavor is the favorite among friends.
- Collecting Good Data: Good data is accurate and specific. For example, counting all the red toys in the classroom instead of just “toys.”
- Using Tools: We can use tools like pictures or lists to collect data.
- Data Analysis: After collecting data, we can look at it to see patterns and make decisions.
- As students begin to work with data and understand the components of Data Science, be sure to help cultivate data curiosity while they explore and play with the data they collect
- For younger kids, encourage students to pick tangible items – eg, if they are counting how many blue items in the classroom, have them draw or write down each item, don’t just have them tally counts. This will give students more information on the data they are collecting for when they present it.
- Key Points for helping run this activity:
- Defining Data Science: Data science involves collecting and analyzing information to help make decisions.
- Real-World Examples: Data science is used in everyday life, such as counting how many apples are in a basket or finding out which ice cream flavor is the favorite among friends.
- Collecting Good Data: Good data is accurate and specific. For example, counting all the red toys in the classroom instead of just “toys.”
- Using Tools: We can use tools like pictures or lists to collect data.
- Data Analysis: After collecting data, we can look at it to see patterns and make decisions.
- As students begin to work with data and understand the components of Data Science, be sure to help cultivate data curiosity while they explore and play with the data they collect
Assessment Opportunities
- Have students share about what category of items they selected and how they would organize, sort, and group their items.
- Have peers give alternative ideas about their classmates’ data collection. This will help expand other students’ thoughts about how data can be thought of (you are going for the “AH! I hadn’t thought about THAT!” reaction.
- Have students share about what category of items they selected and how they would organize, sort, and group their items.
- Have peers give alternative ideas about their classmates’ data collection. This will help expand other students’ thoughts about how data can be thought of (you are going for the “AH! I hadn’t thought about THAT!” reaction.
- Have students share about what category of items they selected and how they would organize, sort, and group their items.
- Have peers give alternative ideas about their classmates’ data collection. This will help expand other students’ thoughts about how data can be thought of (you are going for the “AH! I hadn’t thought about THAT!” reaction.
Extension Opportunities
- Engage the students in conversations about what makes data good, or useful. How might they ensure that the data they are collecting is more easily sorted and categorized?
- Have students share with the class how they presented their data. Discuss how everyone thought about the data differently, both in how they collected the data, then categorized it, then created a chart about it.
- Engage the students in conversations about what makes data good, or useful. How might they ensure that the data they are collecting is more easily sorted and categorized?
- Have students share with the class how they presented their data. Discuss how everyone thought about the data differently, both in how they collected the data, then categorized it, then created a chart about it.
- Engage the students in conversations about what makes data good, or useful. How might they ensure that the data they are collecting is more easily sorted and categorized?
- Have students share with the class how they presented their data. Discuss how everyone thought about the data differently, both in how they collected the data, then categorized it, then created a chart about it.