Smarties Data Handling Investigation: Count, Sort, and Create a Bar Chart
This resource contains 2 PDF files.
Summary
This practical, three-step resource explores data handling through a meaningful and motivating activity using Smarties! Learners will practise counting (up to 30) and sorting by colour, before creating a simple bar chart and interpreting the collected data. Paper Smarties are included, offering a flexible alternative—or use the real sweets once complete as an enticing reward!
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Description
What’s included?
This download includes x7 A4, portrait pdf sheets.
What's it for?
This three-step investigation uses Smarties to teach essential data handling skills:
- Sorting & Counting: Practise counting accurately up to 30 and sorting by colour.
- Organising Data: Transferring collected information onto a simple, clear bar chart.
- Interpreting Data: Answering questions to analyse and draw conclusions from the results.
Your learners should be data handling experts at the end of this activity and may be allowed to eat their Smarties as a reward. Alternatively paper Smarties are provided!
Who’s it for?
This resource has been designed for early years children, pupils in years one and two as well as older students needing additional learning support.
Resource Details
- Total Sheets: 7 printable sheets.
- Full colour and black and white versions (3 sheets for each), plus a sheet of paper Smarties to cut out.
- Printable Smarties are provided as an alternative to using real sweets (as pictured on the cover).
- Designed to be used with one standard tube of Smarties (typically containing around 30 sweets).
- The included bar chart has capacity to record a maximum of 12 Smarties for any single colour group.
This investigation guides learners through three distinct steps:
Page 1: Data Collection
Learners actively investigate the data by:
- sorting their Smarties into 8 specified colour groups (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Pink, Brown).
- counting the number in each group and record the totals.
Page 2: Recording Data
Learners transfer the collected totals onto a simple bar chart, colouring the appropriate number of boxes for each colour group. (The chart accommodates a maximum of 12 Smarties per colour.)
Page 3: Interpreting Data
This page features questions based on the data collected.
- Questions cover key concepts like 'most', 'least', 'the same', 'the difference between', 'odd', and 'even' numbers.
- Colour names are pre-printed at the top to assist with spelling.
Important message…
Any issues with this resource please let us know - we are happy to make changes.
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