Year 4 Science: Comparing groups with tables and Venn diagrams
Part of the Year 4 Science grouping living things chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Comparing groups with tables and Venn diagrams
A Venn diagram uses two overlapping circles to show two groups. Each circle is one group. Living things in the overlap belong to both groups. Living things outside both circles belong to neither.
The table lists eight animals, with whether each one has a backbone, and its group.
| Animal | Has a backbone? | Group |
|---|---|---|
| Goldfish | yes | fish |
| Frog | yes | amphibian |
| Robin | yes | bird |
| Snail | no | snails and slugs |
| Earthworm | no | worms |
| Spider | no | spiders |
| Dog | yes | mammal |
| Mouse | yes | mammal |
Key ideas
- A Venn diagram has two overlapping circles, each showing one group.
- Things in the overlap belong to both groups.
- Things outside both circles belong to neither group.
- To find a total, add the numbers in each part of the diagram.
Method. Count the rows that say yes.
- Read the second column. The rows that say yes are the goldfish, frog, robin, dog and mouse.five yes
- Count them. There are five animals with a backbone.5
- Write the answer. 5
Check. The three rows that say no are the snail, earthworm and spider. ✓
Method. Find the overlap.
- Find the overlap. The overlap is the part inside both circles: Dog and Mouse.Dog and Mouse
- Count them. There are two animals in the overlap.2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Dog and mouse both have a backbone and fur or hair. ✓
Method. Add the three parts of the diagram.
- Count each part. Backbone only has 3, both has 2, and neither has 3.3 + 2 + 3
- Add them. 3 plus 2 plus 3 makes 8 animals.8
- Write the answer. 8
Check. The table also has eight animals. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a Venn diagram has three parts that could contain animals inside the circles, and one part outside both circles. Count every part.
Try it at home or school (with a grown-up). Make a simple Venn diagram with two hoops or two sheets of paper, with a grown-up. Sort five toys or pictures of animals into it, using one feature. Count how many are in each part.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “Which part of the diagram is this in? Does it belong to both groups?” Let your child place each picture first, and then count each part.
Exercise 2E Comparing groups with tables and Venn diagrams
Method. Count the rows that say no.
- Read the second column. The rows that say no are the snail, earthworm and spider.three no
- Count them. There are three animals without a backbone.3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Five with a backbone and three without make eight. ✓
Method. Look at the overlap in the Venn diagram.
- Look at the overlap. The overlap is the part for animals with fur or hair and a backbone.overlap
- Read the names. The names in the overlap are Dog and Mouse.Dog and Mouse
- Write the answer. Dog and Mouse
Check. Both are mammals, so they have fur or hair. ✓
Method. Count the animals in the overlap.
- Find the overlap. The overlap contains Dog and Mouse.Dog and Mouse
- Count them. There are two animals in the overlap.2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. The overlap is inside both circles. ✓
Method. Add the three parts of the diagram.
- Count each part. The backbone only part has 3, the overlap has 2 and the outside part has 3.3, 2 and 3
- Add them. 3 plus 2 plus 3 makes 8.8
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Eight animals are in the table. ✓
Method. Look at the part of the diagram with only the backbone circle.
- Read the part. The backbone-only part contains Goldfish, Frog and Robin.Goldfish, Frog and Robin
- Count them. There are three animals in that part.3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. These three have a backbone, but not fur or hair. ✓
Method. Look at the table and the Venn diagram.
- Look at the robin. A robin has feathers, and it is in the backbone-only part.backbone only
- Decide. So the robin is not in the fur or hair circle.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Birds have feathers, not fur or hair. ✓
Method. Look at the table.
- Look at the spider row. The spider has no backbone.no backbone
- Decide. So the spider is not in the backbone circle.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. The spider is outside both circles. ✓
Method. Add the two counts.
- Read the counts. There are 5 animals with a backbone and 3 without.5 and 3
- Add them. 5 plus 3 makes 8.8
- Write the answer. 8
Check. Check: the table has eight animals. ✓
Method. Look at the overlap.
- Look at the overlap. Dog and Mouse are inside both circles.both circles
- Write one name. Either name is correct.Dog or Mouse
- Write the answer. Accept Dog or Mouse.
Check. Each is a mammal with fur or hair, and a backbone. ✓
Method. Check the spider.
- Check the backbone. A spider has no backbone.no backbone
- Check the fur. A spider has no fur or hair, so it is in neither circle.neither
- Write the answer. No. Accept any reason that says a spider has no backbone and no fur or hair, so it is outside both circles.
Check. Legs do not decide the group in this diagram. ✓
Method. Check the snail.
- Check the backbone. A snail has no backbone.no backbone
- Check the fur. A snail has no fur or hair, so it is outside both circles.outside
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says a snail has no backbone and no fur or hair, so it is outside both circles.
Check. Each circle needs the feature to be inside it. ✓