Year 4

Data and information – Data logging

In this unit, children will consider how and why data is collected over time. Children will consider the senses that humans use to experience the environment and how computers can use special input devices called sensors to monitor the environment. Children will collect data as well as access data captured over long periods of time. They will look at data points, data sets, and logging intervals. Children will spend time using a computer to review and analyse data. Towards the end of the unit, children will pose questions and then use data loggers to automatically collect the data needed to answer those questions.

Lesson 1: Answering questions

Learners will consider what data can be collected and how it is collected. They will think about data being collected over time. Learners will also think about questions that can and can’t be answered using available data, and reflect on the importance of collecting the right data to answer questions.

Learning objectives

To explain that data gathered over time can be used to answer questions

● I can choose a data set to answer a given question

● I can suggest questions that can be answered using a given data set

● I can identify data that can be gathered over time

Key vocabulary

Data, table, layout

Lesson 2: Data collection

Introduction

Learners will build on the idea of collecting data over time, and be introduced to the idea of collecting data automatically using computers such as data loggers. They will also be introduced to the concept that computers can capture data from the physical world using input devices called ‘sensors’. Learners will establish that sensors can be connected to data loggers, which can automatically collect data while not attached to a computer.