TP-14.4

Use sports stats to teach data handling Thereare two typesof sports fans intheworld: those whoderivehoursof pleasure fromwatching thebest intheworlddo their thingbeforegoingout andtrying toreplicate theseathletic feats; andthosewhokeep spreadsheetsabout them. Yes, sporthasanalmost unparalleledability tounifyand inspire, but it’sa monument standingona foundationof statistics. Encouragingyour class tobreakasweat exploring worldrecorddata isagreatway to introducepupils to differentwaysofhandlingandpresentingdata. 1 | HOME SPORTS At the moment, events that require a large degree of space or mass participation are out. However, three or four events that can be easily replicated at home by anyone can still provide you with some data to interrogate. So, while the sailing isn’t happening, pupils can easily make boats from some cork, cocktail sticks and a fold of paper. Add a baking tray filled with water and some straws for the wind and you have everything you need for a regatta. Access to one step is all you need for a how- many-steps-can-you-do-in-a- minute event. If pupils have a potato and enough space to toss it, you’ve got a shot put. If they don’t have enough room to lob a spud you can always scale it down to counter-flicking level. While the weightlifting is no more, half an eggshell can support a massive amount of weight. Get Set your class challenges anduse the results to create charts and tables, says Ian Goldsworthy 72 | www.teachwire.net START HERE MAIN LESSON WHAT THEY’LL LEARN l Generate measurable data from sporting events l Record data in a table l Identify the headings to be used for a table l Draw a bar chart Maths & PE KS 1 / LKS 2 LES SON PLAN The Olympics have been postponed to next year when the world is hopefully back on its axis, but just because we’re missing the Olympics this year, doesn’t mean there can’t be an Olympics. Begin this lesson by exploring history’s greatest sporting showcase with your class, starting in Ancient Greece and travelling forward to London 2012 – including the celebration of the NHS at the opening ceremony – and beyond. @ian_goldsworthy