Weaving Data
In this award-winning, unplugged activity, learners use strips of material woven into a fence or other large frame to display data, creating a collaborative art installation that is both eye-catching and conversation-sparking.
- Curriculum Level: Early (Pre 5 & P1) First (P2-P4) Second (P5-P7)
- Curricular area: Expressive arts Social Studies
- Topics and Themes: Data visualisation Finding & Using Information
Fizzy Data
Create your own Zero-waste Data Physicalisation (or Fizzy Data, for short!) In this activity that requires both creativity and understanding a data set, learners will create a fun, physical representation of a provided data set using the materials and tools available.
- Curriculum Level: First (P2-P4) Second (P5-P7) Third (S1-S3)
- Curricular area: Expressive arts Maths & Numeracy
- Topics and Themes: Data visualisation Finding & Using Information
Books for discussing data
Below is a list of books which teachers have found useful for starting conversations about data in the classroom. Book reviews from teachers and learners will be linked below each title as we receive them.
- Curriculum Level: Early (Pre 5 & P1) First (P2-P4) NPA Data Science Second (P5-P7) Senior Phase (S4-6) Third (S1-S3)
- Curricular area: Expressive arts Health and wellbeing Languages Maths & Numeracy Religious and moral education Sciences Social Studies Technologies
Data Visualisation Examples
We have pulled together an (ever-growing!) set of data visualisation examples, categorised by type—e.g. bar charts, pie charts, line graphs, scatter plots, histograms, heat maps, and many more—as well as curricular level at which we would expect comprehension and creation of each graph.
- Curriculum Level: Early (Pre 5 & P1) First (P2-P4) NPA Data Science Second (P5-P7) Senior Phase (S4-6) Third (S1-S3)
- Curricular area: Expressive arts Health and wellbeing Languages Maths & Numeracy Religious and moral education Sciences Social Studies Technologies
- Topics and Themes: Data visualisation
- PPDAC Framework: Analysis Conclusion
Micro:bit Monsters (Early/First Level version)
Make a Micro:Pet that smiles and sings! In this lesson, learners will code a micro:bit to show a face and make sounds. The learners can then design a papercraft monster to fit round the micro:bit.
- Curriculum Level: Early (Pre 5 & P1) First (P2-P4)
- Curricular area: Expressive arts Technologies
Micro:bit Data Monsters
Make a Micro:bit Monster and put it to work collecting data for you! In this lesson, learners will code a micro:bit to show a face and make sounds, as well as sense the ambient temperature. The learners can then design a papercraft monster to fit round the micro:bit, and decide where in the classroom or school they will put their monster.
- Curriculum Level: Second (P5-P7)
- Curricular area: Expressive arts Technologies
Teach Data Literacy: a guide for primary teachers
'Teach Data Literacy: a guide for primary teachers' is a resource developed by the Data Education in Schools team to support teachers to enhance opportunities for all to build the skills and habits of mind relevant to data problem-solving.
- Curriculum Level: Early (Pre 5 & P1) First (P2-P4) Second (P5-P7)
- Curricular area: Expressive arts Health and wellbeing Languages Maths & Numeracy Religious and moral education Sciences Social Studies Technologies
- Topics and Themes: Activity, Diet, Rest and Sleep Biodiversity and Interdependence Data Analysis Data visualisation Diet Digital Literacy Finding & Using Information Past Events and Societies People in society, economy and business Processing and Managing Information Responsibly
- PPDAC Framework: Analysis Conclusion Data Plan Problem
From your plate to the planet: the environmental impact of what we eat
Download the lesson plan in Word or PDF
- Curriculum Level: Second (P5-P7)
- Curricular area: Expressive arts Health and wellbeing Maths & Numeracy Social Studies Technologies
- Topics and Themes: Data Analysis Diet Digital Literacy Finding & Using Information People in society, economy and business
- PPDAC Framework: Analysis Conclusion Data Plan Problem
Seasonal Datasets
Some resource links to support your exploration of seasonal data. If you have datasets you would like to see included on this page, please get in touch at dataschools@ed.ac.uk (subject line 'seasonal datasets')
- Curriculum Level: Second (P5-P7) Senior Phase (S4-6) Third (S1-S3)
- Curricular area: Expressive arts Maths & Numeracy
- Topics and Themes: Data Analysis
- PPDAC Framework: Data Plan Problem