Outline of the activityFollowing visits by a storyteller organised by the local library the children devised a questionnaire to investigate their reading habits and then entered the data collected into a computer database.
Skills CoveredChildren devised questions suitable for a questionnaire that explored their reading choices. Children were introduced to files, records and fields by exploring a computer-based data. They used a teacher prepared computer database, added records to it and carried out simple and complex searches using ‘AND’, greater than and less than.
RationaleTo consolidate the importance of reading and to follow up the visit of a storyteller to the class. The children were asked to gather data on their reading habits and analyse the information. The use of ICT enhanced the survey adding interest and helping to develop key skills.
ResultThe children were able to interrogate a database framing questions correctly and they were able to save, retrieve and print out records as required. They were also able to produce a range of graphs. Also they were encouraged to work in groups, carefully considering the information collected and create a list of conclusions. Their work was used to create an attractive, informative classroom display.
The questions (interrogating the database)
The reading survey (finding out class preferences)
The database
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Outline of the activity
