Year 3 Science: Recording, classifying and presenting data
Part of the Year 3 Science working scientifically chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Recording, classifying and presenting data
When we record results, we write them down straight away, in a table, with units. When we classify, we put things into groups using a rule.
A key is a set of yes or no questions. You answer each question in order, and each answer leads you to a group. A key helps other people sort things in the same way.
We can present data in different ways:
- a table, with a row for each thing and a column for each measurement;
- a bar chart, where the height of each bar shows the number;
- a labelled diagram, with a label for each part and a short title;
- a drawing that shows what we saw.
| Object | Material |
|---|---|
| wooden ruler | wood |
| metal paper clip | metal |
| plastic cup | plastic |
| wooden spoon | wood |
| cardboard box | cardboard |
Key ideas
- A table records each thing and its result, with a unit.
- A key uses yes or no questions, in order, to sort things into groups.
- A bar chart needs a title, labels and a scale.
- A labelled diagram names each part, so that a reader can understand it.
Method. Start at the top of the key and follow the answers.
- Start at the top. The first question is: is it made of wood?Is it made of wood?
- Answer the question for the spoon. A wooden spoon is made of wood, so the answer is yes.wood: yes
- Follow the yes arrow. A yes takes us to the wood group, so we stop there.wood group
- Write the answer. wood
Check. The wooden spoon is in the wood group. ✓
Watch out. Start at the top every time, and answer the first question for each object.
Method. Find the bar for Towel B, then read the top of the bar on the scale.
- Find the bar for Towel B. It is the middle bar.Towel B
- Read the top of the bar. The bar reaches the 88 mark on the scale, in ml.88 ml
- Write the answer. 88 ml
Check. Towel B soaked up 88 ml, the most of the three. ✓
Watch out. Read the value on the bar, and write the unit ml.
Method. Find the label on the dashed line, then check the ruler.
- Find the label. The label on the dashed line says drop 50 cm.drop 50 cm
- Check the ruler. The dashed line lines up with the 50 mark on the ruler.50 on the ruler
- Write the answer. 50 cm
Check. The label and the ruler both show 50 cm. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a bar chart without a title or units cannot be read properly. Always write what the numbers mean.
Try it at home or school (with a grown-up). Find five things from around your home that are made of different materials, such as wood, metal, plastic, paper or cloth. Make a yes or no key to sort them into groups. Ask someone else to sort the things using your key.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to read each question of the key aloud, in order. If a thing does not fit, ask them to change the key, not the answer.
Exercise 1D Recording, classifying and presenting data
Method. Follow the key for the plastic cup.
- Question 1. Is it made of wood? A plastic cup is not made of wood, so the answer is no.no
- Question 2. Is it made of metal? A plastic cup is not made of metal, so the answer is no.no
- Find the group. Both answers are no, so the cup goes in the other group.other
- Write the answer. other
Check. The plastic cup is not wood and not metal. ✓
| Object | Material |
|---|---|
| wooden ruler | wood |
| metal paper clip | metal |
| plastic cup | plastic |
| wooden spoon | wood |
| cardboard box | cardboard |
Method. Use the key. Count the objects that end up in the wood group.
- Follow the key for each object. Ask the yes or no questions in order.wooden ruler, wooden spoon
- Count the objects in the group. There are 2 objects that end in the wood group.1 + 1 = 2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Count the names in the list again: 2. ✓
Watch out. Check every object against the first question, not only the first one you see.
Method. Use the key. Count the objects that end up in the metal group.
- Follow the key for each object. Ask the yes or no questions in order.metal paper clip
- Count the objects in the group. There is 1 object that end in the metal group.1 = 1
- Write the answer. 1
Check. Count the names in the list again: 1. ✓
Watch out. Check every object against the first question, not only the first one you see.
Method. Use the key. Count the objects that end up in the other group.
- Follow the key for each object. Ask the yes or no questions in order.plastic cup, cardboard box
- Count the objects in the group. There are 2 objects that end in the other group.1 + 1 = 2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Count the names in the list again: 2. ✓
Watch out. Check every object against the first question, not only the first one you see.
Method. Count the groups of five first. Then count the marks left over.
- Count the full groups. One full group has five marks.1 group = 5 marks
- Count the marks left over. Three single marks are left over.3 marks
- Add them together. Five and three make eight.5 + 3 = 8
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Count all the marks one at a time, and you get 8. ✓
| Group | Number of objects |
|---|---|
| wood | 2 |
| metal | ? |
| other | 2 |
Method. Use the total of five objects to find the missing number.
- Find the total. There are five objects in all.total = 5
- Add the known groups. The wood group and the other group make 4 objects.2 + 2 = 4
- Find the missing number. The total is 5, so the metal group has 5 minus 4 objects.5 − 4 = 1
- Write the answer. 1
Check. The metal group has 1 object: 2 + 1 + 2 = 5. ✓
Method. Read the label on the ruler, then look at its marks.
- Read the label. The label on the ruler says ruler, cm.ruler, cm
- Look at the marks. The marks go up from the table, in centimetres, from 0 to 60.marks: 0 to 60 cm
- Write the answer. height in cm
Check. The ruler measures how high the ball is above the table. ✓
Method. Think about which way makes the numbers easy to compare.
- Think about a list with no units. A list with no units does not say what the numbers mean.no units
- Choose the best way. A bar chart shows the three values side by side, with a scale.bar chart
- Write the answer. a bar chart
Check. A bar chart lets us compare the three towels at a glance. ✓
Method. Find the bar for Towel C, then read its top.
- Find the bar for Towel C. It is the last bar.Towel C
- Read the top of the bar. The bar reaches 55 on the scale, in ml.55 ml
- Write the answer. 55 ml
Check. Towel C soaked up 55 ml. ✓
Method. Follow the key for the paper clip.
- Question 1. Is it made of wood? A metal paper clip is not wood, so the answer is no.no
- Question 2. Is it made of metal? Yes, a paper clip is made of metal.yes
- Find the group. The yes arrow leads to the metal group.metal
- Write the answer. metal
Check. Follow the arrows, and check the group name. ✓
Method. The question must split the cardboard box away from the other objects.
- Look at the cardboard box. The cardboard box is the only object made of cardboard.cardboard
- Write the question. A question about cardboard puts the box alone in its group.is it cardboard?
- Write the answer. Accept any yes or no question that separates the cardboard box from the other objects, such as “Is it made of cardboard?”
Check. Only the cardboard box answers yes. ✓