This activity is one that is repeated daily to provide children with opportunities to answer simple questions posed by the teacher. In one example, the children move magnetic pictures of themselves to the appropriate section on a chart or graph as a way to answer the daily question.
The resource offers many possible questions to ask the children, such as: Are you a boy or a girl? Which milk do you like (chocolate or white)? How do you get to school (car with parent, bus, car with good friends?)? What is your favorite sport (soccer, baseball, football, hockey, bowling)? As the day progresses, the teachers ask questions that prompt the children to think about and discuss the data they have collected. Do more children in our class like white milk or chocolate milk? Do more children like soccer or football?
This lesson mentions using this experience with Kindergarten children, but the extensions offer many other ideas for ways to use the idea of a daily question to experience data collection and analysis that will appeal to many different ages. (author/nmb)
Graphing is one way for children to organize the information to gather. This resource provides lots of ideas for topics that could offer children opportunities to gather and organize data. Although graphing isn't the only option, it is good for all your children to have experiences with it.
To make graphing more inclusive be sure to look for opportunities to collect data as the children play throughout the day and not just as the children arrive. Support data collection that corresponds to the interests and activities of the children who need extra practice in this area.
Also be sure to think about how each child can share their answers. Do some children need to be asked one question at a time - do you get to school on a bus? In this format, a child can use a yes/no switch to answer. Do some children need a different way to put a card or marker on the chart, because they cannot grasp small objects or move them easily?
If you want more ideas for your inclusive classroom, you may find what you are looking for on the Planning Options pages of the REC. (author/nmb)
Data Analysis and Probability for Early Childhood
Data Collection
1.
Gather, sort and compare objects by similarities and differences in the context of daily activities and play (e.g., leaves, nuts, socks).
2.
Place information or objects in a floor or table graph according to one attribute (e.g., size, color, shape or quantity).