Becoming Young Authors · Spring Term

Writing for a Purpose

Exploring different purposes for writing, such as making lists, sending cards, or telling stories.

About This Topic

Collecting information is the first step in the NCCA Data strand. For Junior Infants, this is about realizing that we can ask questions to find out things about our world and our friends. Students learn to gather data through simple surveys, such as 'How did you get to school today?' or 'What is your favorite fruit?'

This topic is highly social and encourages communication and turn-taking. It helps students understand that everyone has different preferences and that these can be counted and compared. Students grasp this concept faster through active data collection where they move around the room, interview their peers, and use their own bodies to represent the information they find.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The Human Bar Chart

Ask a question with three possible answers (e.g., 'Do you like apples, bananas, or grapes?'). Designate three areas of the room. Students move to the area that matches their choice. They then look at the lines of people to see which group is the 'longest' and has the 'most' people.

⏱ 20 min·Whole Class

Generate mission

Inquiry Circle: The Shoe Survey

In small groups, students look at everyone's shoes. They must decide on a way to group them (e.g., shoes with Velcro vs. shoes with laces). They count how many are in each group and report their findings to the class using their fingers or blocks.

⏱ 20 min·Small Groups

Generate mission

Think-Pair-Share: What Should We Ask?

Tell the class we want to learn something new about our friends. In pairs, students think of a 'this or that' question (e.g., 'Cats or dogs?'). They share their question with the class, and the teacher helps them pick one to use for a quick whole-class vote.

⏱ 15 min·Pairs

Generate mission

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Students may forget to count themselves when collecting data.

What to Teach Instead

When doing a 'human graph,' have everyone hold a brightly colored card. This physical object represents their 'vote.' It's easier for a child to remember to count their card than to remember they are part of the group. Peer-checking the count helps ensure accuracy.

Common Misconception

Children might change their answer based on what their friends choose.

What to Teach Instead

This is common in Junior Infants. To get 'true' data, try a 'secret vote' where they put a block in a hidden box or close their eyes before moving to a group. Discussing why we want everyone's own opinion helps them understand the purpose of data collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can active learning help students with data collection?

Active learning turns data from abstract numbers into a physical experience. When students use their own bodies to form a 'human graph' or move around to interview peers, they see that each 'count' represents a real person or choice. This makes the data meaningful. Collaborative investigations also teach them the social skills needed to ask questions and listen to answers, which are the core of data gathering.

What kind of data is best to collect with Junior Infants?

Keep it simple and relevant to their lives. Favorite colors, pets, types of shoes, or how they travel to school are all great topics. Use 'either/or' questions or a maximum of three choices to keep the data manageable for their first experiences.

How do I introduce the idea of a 'survey'?

Start with a problem. 'I want to buy a treat for the class, but I don't know if more people like popcorn or pretzels. How can we find out?' This gives the data collection a clear, practical purpose that children can easily understand.

What tools can help Junior Infants collect data?

Concrete objects are best. Use a 'voting jar' where students drop a marble, or a 'peg board' where they clip a peg to their choice. These physical representations are much easier for young children to handle than tally marks or written lists.

Browse curriculum by country

• Americas
• US
• CA
• MX
• CL
• CO
• BR

• Europe
• UK
• IE
• FR
• DE
• ES
• IT
• NL
• PT
• SE

• Asia & Pacific
• IN
• SG
• AU