Data is information — Data, 4–6 years
Data is information we notice, remember or write down about things, people or events. Learning to recognise it helps us talk clearly about what we find out.
What data is
Data is information about something. A red cup, three birds and a rainy morning can all give us data when we notice or record them. Data does not have to be a long list of numbers.
Why call it data?
When we call observations data, we can put them together and look for useful clues. People began keeping records because memory can leave things out or mix them up. A record gives the same information a better chance of being shared and checked.
A tiny data record
Mia looks at three toy cars and writes what she notices: the first is blue, the second has four wheels, and the third is bigger than her hand. Each note is data about a car. Together, the notes tell more than saying only, “I have cars.”
A number is not the only data
It is easy to think that data must be numbers because numbers are quick to count. But “soft”, “striped” or “under the table” can also be useful data. The important question is whether the information helps us describe what we are looking at.
Data all around us
At home, a label can tell you a food’s name, colour or ingredients. At a park, signs give information about paths and play equipment. Noticing these details is using data to understand a place and decide what to do.
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