Mission: Data Detective
Gathering clues from the world around you
Data isn't just numbers in a textbook, it's the story of how the world works! You can find data clues in:
- Newspapers & Magazines: Look for weather, sports scores, or movie ratings
- Charts & Graphs: Pictures that explain how much or how many
- Polls & Surveys: Results of people sharing their opinions
- The Web: Websites that track everything from game players to animal populations
Activity 1: The Graph Translator
Find a chart or graph in a newspaper, textbook, or website. Your mission is to turn that image back into a clear data table.
Step 1: Inspect the Evidence
- What's the main title?
- What categories are listed on the bottom or side?
- Detective Tip: Check the scale! Does one block represent 1, 5, or 10?
Step 2: Record the Findings
| Category | Number / Value |
|---|---|
Think: Which category has the "Top Score"? Which has the least?
Activity 2: Fact Finding in Articles
Find an article (in print or online) that uses numbers to tell a story. Look for temperatures, prices, scores, or dates.
| Source Name | What's being measured? | The Data (Numbers) |
|---|---|---|
| Example: Sports Page | Goals Scored | 3 |
Activity 3: Poll & Tally
Find a poll in a magazine or create your own by asking 5-10 people a question (like "What's your favorite pizza topping?").
Step 1: Tally the Votes
Use tally marks to record data quickly as you find it!
| Answer Choice | Tally Marks (||||) | Final Total |
|---|---|---|
Data Storyteller Challenge
Take one of your tables above and explain it to a friend:
- Write one sentence explaining what the data shows
- Write one "Wh-" question (Who, What, Where) that your data answers
- Analyze: Which source was the easiest to find data in? Why?
Reflection
Complete these detective notes:
- One new place I found data today was ________________________
- Recording data carefully is important because __________________