Year 2 Mathematics · AC9M2ST01

Acquire data for categorical variables through surveys, observation, experiment and using digital tools; sort data into relevant categories and display data using lists and tables

acquire data for categorical variables through surveys, observation, experiment and using digital tools; sort data into relevant categories and display data using lists…

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Learning goalsSay it simply

Data is useful when it answers a clear question. Categorical data is sorted into named groups such as favourite fruit or transport type.

Learning sequence: Ask question → Collect data → Sort categories → Table → Answer

Success looks like

  • Ask survey questions
  • Collect data
  • Sort categories
  • Use lists and tables
  • Answer from data
Key conceptTeach from the board

Use a clear survey question

Question: favourite fruit?applebananaorange

Each response belongs in one category.

Display sorted data in a table

Apple: 6Banana: 4Orange: 5

Tables help compare categories accurately.

Clean visual examplesOne-page board

Clean one-page examples

AC9M2ST01 - Acquire data for categorical variables through surveys, observation, experiment and using digital tools; sort data into relevant categories and display data using lists and tables
Example 1

Question: favourite fruit? apple banana orange

Example 2

Apple: 6 Banana: 4 Orange: 5

Example 3

Class survey Ask one clear question and tally each response once. yes no maybe

Example 4

Sort data Group responses into categories that do not overlap. walk bus car bike

Curriculum examplesCurriculum examples

Curriculum coverage and elaborations

The content description and elaborations below show the curriculum ideas taught in this unit. Items marked as teaching context support lesson planning.

  • Content description: acquire data for categorical variables through surveys, observation, experiment and using digital tools; sort data into relevant categories and display data using lists and tables
  • E1: posing a question of interest about favourite things; for example, asking classmates what are their favourite types of fruit, football teams, days of the week, and recording responses using a table; using counting strategies to determine the number of different responses and the most popular and least popular responses
  • E2: investigating questions, such as “How much rubbish is really rubbish?” by gathering data about objects in categories; for example, throw away, recycle and reuse; deciding whether the data answers the question
  • E3: using familiar software or generative artificial intelligence tools, to construct a survey to collect class data, sorting and interpreting responses, and considering the questions asked and whether they need to be modified to reuse the survey
  • E4: observing events and using the observations to design a table or list to record data; for example, observing students arriving at school prior to deciding the appropriate data categories for investigating the different ways students get to school
  • E5: exploring the ways First Nations Australians observe, collect, sort and record data (teaching context)
Questions and answersWith answers

Key idea: Data is useful when it answers a clear question. Categorical data is sorted into named groups such as favourite fruit or transport type.

Remember

  • Ask survey questions
  • Collect data
  • Sort categories
  • Use lists and tables
  • Answer from data

Quick questions

  • What is a categorical variable?
  • Why should each response be counted once?
  • Create a survey question.
  • Make a table for cats: 5, dogs: 8.

If an answer is uncertain, return to the model and explain what each part represents before calculating or drawing a conclusion.

Practice and reviewReady for practice
  • Unclear question — Use a question everyone can answer the same way.
  • Double counting — Record each person or item once.
  • Overlapping categories — Make categories clear so each response has one place.

How to use this unit

Read the topic guide and use the teacher slide for instruction. Students can then use the worksheet for written work, open Practice for supported feedback, or take the Test when they are ready.

Curriculum alignmentStart here

Data is useful when it answers a clear question. Categorical data is sorted into named groups such as favourite fruit or transport type.

Learning sequence: Ask question → Collect data → Sort categories → Table → Answer

Success looks like

  • Ask survey questions
  • Collect data
  • Sort categories
  • Use lists and tables
  • Answer from data
Related resourcesKeep teaching

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