ACARA v9 CONTENT DESCRIPTION “sort and order data and information and represent patterns, including with provided tables and visual or physical models”
Builds on looking closely and counting what you see. The next step is to tidy up what you found. When you sort things into groups and put them in order, a pattern starts to show.
What does it mean to sort?
To sort is to put things into groups. If you pick up lots of leaves, you can make a pile of big leaves and a pile of small leaves. Each pile is a group. Once things are in groups, you can count how many are in each one and write the count down in a little table.
Sort the leaves, then count each group
On a walk we sorted the leaves we found into three groups by size. Look at the table of counts, then turn it into a bar chart and see which group is biggest.
The bar chart turns the counts into bars. The Big group has the tallest bar, so it is the biggest group. We sorted, then counted, then made a picture of the pattern.
What does it mean to order?
To order is to line things up, like from smallest to biggest, or from coolest to warmest. We checked how warm each day felt and gave it a number. Putting the days in order from the coolest to the warmest makes a clear line. When the numbers go up step by step, that is a pattern you can see.
Order the days from cool to warm, and spot the mix-up
We ordered the days from coolest to warmest. The warmth number should keep going up. One day was put in the wrong spot, so the line dips down. Click the day that is out of order.
Click the point that does not fit the pattern of the others.
Read the pattern
Once things are sorted and ordered, you can talk about the pattern. A good sentence about the pattern tells what really happened, like which group was biggest or that the days got warmer. Some sentences sound nice but do not tell us about the pattern at all. Sort the sentences and keep only the ones that match what the table and chart show.
Which sentences describe the sorted pattern?
We sorted the leaves and ordered the days. Decide which sentences truly describe the pattern we found.
Claim: When we sort and order what we find, a clear pattern shows up.
The Big leaf group had the most leaves of all three groups.
The days got warmer as the week went on.
I like the colour green the best.
From least to most, the cups of shells go 1, 2, then 4.
My shoes are red and they are very fast.
Decide whether each statement is evidence for the claim, or not.
Why this matters
Sorting into groups and putting things in order is the first thing scientists do with what they find. A messy pile of leaves or numbers is hard to read. Once it is sorted, ordered and drawn as a simple table or chart, the pattern jumps out and you can tell others what you learned.
Quick self-check
1. You found lots of leaves. What does it mean to sort them?
2. You have cups with 1, 4, and 2 shells. How do you order them from least to most?
3. You count birds each day: 2, then 4, then 6, then 8. What is the pattern?
4. Why is a bar chart helpful after you sort and count?
5. You ordered cups by size. One cup is in the wrong spot. What should you do?