Introduction

Print out the starter cards (enough for one set per small group) and ask them the following questions. Which country has the largest population? Which country covers the smallest area? Which 3 countries have the smallest population?

Using the blank starter cards create fact files for the following countries (or choose your own)

Portugal

New Zealand

Austria

Australia

You can use https://en.wikipedia.org (but remember that the pupils will need to double check the information).

Recap what a database is, explaining the meaning of field, datatype and record. Use the starting video as appropriate.

Load the database template and show the information. Draw attention to the fields and datatypes.

Main Activities

Task 1.

Load the database template. Transfer the information that you added to the starter cards, to the database.

Stop the class and discuss any problems. Explain to the pupils that we can use a database to find information quickly. Ask the question "which country has the largest population?". Find the answer by first clicking on the table tab of the database. Then click the relevant field and use the up or down arrows.

Task 2

Use the database to answer the following questions:-

Which country has the smallest population?

Which country covers the largest area?

Which 3 countries are the largest in population?

Stop the class. Show the pupils how to use a query to answer more complex questions (see starter video). For example, which countries have the Euro as their currency.

Task 3

Use the database to answer the following questions:-

Which countries have an area less than 50,000?

Which countries speak English as their first language?

Which country uses the Yen as it's currency?

Which country uses the Euro as it's currency and has an area less than 50,000?

Challenge

Make a database for the European union pupils can define their own records.

Follow up lessons

Learning can be reinforced using the minibeast cards and database. This would link well to science work on animals and their habitats.

Starter Cards: j2e.com/data/minibeastscards

Database: j2e.com/data/examples/minibeasts

Assessment

Children can save their work enabling the teacher to assess what they have produced after the lesson.

Learning Objectives

Design and create a range of programs, systems and content that accomplish given goals, including collecting, analysing, evaluating and presenting data and information

Learning Outcomes

All children: will collect and present data and information

Most children: will collect, present and analyse data and information

Some children: will collect, present, analyse and evaluate data and information

Cross curricular links

Key Stage 2

Maths - solve one-step and two-step questions [for example, ‘How much more is this item?’ and ‘How much less is that item?’] using information presented in scaled bar charts and pictograms and tables.

interpret and present data using bar charts, pictograms and tables.

Upper Key Stage 2

Complete, read and interpret information in tables.

Begin to decide which representations of data are most appropriate and why

Vocabulary

http://www.j2e.com/data/glossary/

Resources

Starter Cards: j2e.com/data/countrycards/

Database Template: j2e.com/data/examples/countries