Mathematics · Senior Infants

Active learning ideas

Our Favourite Things

Active learning helps Senior Infants grasp 'Our Favourite Things' because concrete, hands-on experiences with real class data make abstract ideas like proportions and frequencies visible. When children physically sort, tally, and build charts with familiar materials, they connect abstract symbols to their own experiences, deepening understanding.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• NCCA: Junior Cycle - Statistics and Probability - SP.2

• 30–50 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Think-Pair-Share
• 30 min · Whole Class

Whole Class: Favorite Color Survey

Pose the question 'What is your favorite color?' and have children raise hands for each option. Record tallies on the board as a class. Draw a simple histogram with colored bars matching the tallest to shortest frequencies, then discuss the most popular choice.

What is the most popular pet in our class?

Facilitation Tip

During the Favorite Color Survey, circulate with a clipboard to check tallies as children mark their votes, asking each child to explain their choice to reinforce categorization.

What to look for

Ask students to draw a histogram for a small set of data, such as 3 red blocks, 5 blue blocks, and 2 green blocks. Observe if they create bars of appropriate relative heights.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Think-Pair-Share
• 45 min · Small Groups

Small Groups: Pet Pie Charts

Each group surveys 5-6 classmates on favorite pets using picture cards. Tally results, then fold paper plates into pie sectors proportional to votes and color them. Groups present their charts to the class for comparison.

Can you put your hand up if your favourite colour is red , how many is that?

Facilitation Tip

In Pet Pie Charts, provide paper plates pre-marked with equal segments to scaffold proportional thinking before children attempt freehand cuts.

What to look for

Provide students with a pre-made pie chart showing favorite fruits (e.g., 4 apples, 3 bananas, 2 oranges). Ask them to write one sentence stating which fruit is the most popular and one sentence stating which is the least popular.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 35 min · Pairs

Pairs: Toy Histograms

Pairs list 4-5 toy types and survey partners plus nearby children. Draw histograms on grid paper with bars scaled to votes. Pairs predict and verify the class's top toy through sharing.

How did we find out what everyone's favourite is?

Facilitation Tip

For Toy Histograms, have pairs stack linking cubes vertically on a grid, ensuring they place each cube directly above the correct toy label to avoid misalignment.

What to look for

Present two different charts (a histogram and a pie chart) representing the same class data on favorite animals. Ask: 'What does this chart tell us about our favorite animals? Which chart do you think shows the information more clearly, and why?'

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 04

• Stations Rotation
• 50 min · Small Groups

Stations Rotation: Data Makers

Set up stations for color, fruit, and game surveys with tally sheets and chart templates. Groups rotate, collect data, and build one pie chart or histogram per station. Debrief with whole-class gallery walk.

What is the most popular pet in our class?

What to look for

Ask students to draw a histogram for a small set of data, such as 3 red blocks, 5 blue blocks, and 2 green blocks. Observe if they create bars of appropriate relative heights.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should approach this topic by starting with familiar categories like colors or pets before introducing abstract graphs. Use guided questions to prompt reasoning, such as 'Why is this bar taller?' or 'How do the slices match our tallies?' Avoid rushing to formal terms—focus on the meaning behind the visuals. Research shows that manipulatives and real data increase engagement and retention for young learners.

Successful learning looks like children confidently using tally marks to record votes, explaining why pie chart slices vary in size based on data, and describing histogram bar heights as frequencies. They should answer questions about class preferences using their charts with minimal prompting.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Pet Pie Charts, watch for children cutting slices of equal size regardless of tally counts.

  Have students fold paper plates into equal parts first, then label each sector with a pet name. As they place tally marks under each pet, ask them to predict which slice should be larger before cutting, testing their predictions with scissors.

• During Toy Histograms, watch for children counting the number of bars instead of comparing their heights.

  Provide a grid with labeled columns for each toy. Have pairs stack linking cubes one by one, saying 'This cube shows one vote for the red car' to reinforce that height equals frequency.

• During the Favorite Color Survey, watch for children treating stickers or names as separate from tally counts.

  Ask children to place a sticker on the board for their vote, then immediately mark a tally below it. Discuss how the tally and sticker represent the same choice to connect visuals and symbols.

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Methods used in this brief

• Think-Pair-Share
• Stations Rotation