Students enjoy learning about each other with the use of surveys. It’s also an easy way to learn more about the young people I work with each day, too. In this blog post, I will share a few ways I use them in my primary classroom.
Why Is This Important?
Surveys are part of my Math instruction during the school year (e.g., the math strand of Data Management ). Due to the often interactive nature of doing surveys, students enjoy using them in class at any given time. One of my students’ favourite thing to do is talk to their peers during class time. What they may not realize is that encouraging them to talk in such purposeful ways is integral to their learning! It’s a win-win!
A Favourite and Helpful Video
Here’s a favourite video I love sharing with my students when we start learning about Data Management and collecting data. It’s by Scratch Garden on YouTube.
Skills Students Learn With Surveys
- Thinking of great questions to ask others (e.g., “What season do you prefer: Winter of Spring?”).
- Creating a variety of surveys (e.g., “I will create a T-chart or graph the responses with a pictograph.”).
- Collecting and sorting data (e.g., “I will use tally marks as I ask my friends the survey question.”).
- Reading data (e.g., “Five people said they prefer winter. Three people prefer Spring.”).
- Interpreting data (e.g., “More people prefer winter. I wonder why winter is the more popular season in my class?”).
Samples of Simple Surveys Used in My Classroom
How I Engage Students with Surveys in My Classroom
Whiteboard and Dry Erase Markers: When I ask my students to use these tools, any task becomes a more interesting one! My primary students enjoy drawing simple surveys (e.g., a T-Chart) and collecting data from their peers on their individual whiteboards.
Paper and Markers or Pencil Crayons: For my students who enjoy using various tools as they learn each day, having the choice to use markers or pencil crayons to do their math adds to the fun. I’ve noticed how some of my students even like using these tools to colour-code their data or design their surveys.
Clipboards: This has been a game-changer for me from a few years ago. When I hand a clipboard to each student, for some reason, they become like superstars and become engaged, excited to start working! They enjoy clipping their papers onto them, then moving around the room to speak to peers and record their answers. A clipboard for each student is a resource I love having in my classroom.
Click on the images below for more details on these helpful classroom resources! *non-affiliate / unsponsored links*
Using Surveys Outside of Math Instruction
Teaching my students how to use surveys in class helps them experience success in other areas of their learning, too. For example, once they know how to create a survey, students are ready to create them or use the skills to read one at any time.
Here are some other ways I use surveys in my primary classroom:
Science: When students are learning about animals, they enjoy making surveys on various animals. After learning about animal groups, I encourage them to create surveys for each animal group. Example: “What is your favourite type of mammal: a tiger or a fox?”
Homework Task: When my students are encouraged to create a survey, then use it at home with their family, it’s always great fun when they share their results the next day with their peers. It’s real-world information for them and a great discussion opener in class.
I’m done, now what? I’m sure you can think of at least one student in class who seems to finish assigned tasks in what may seem like a few moments. Here’s a great way to engage that student in a purposeful way and keep them occupied on a different task. I encourage that student to create their own survey template and keep it in their desk (e.g., folder, binder, etc.). They will be able to use it in class at a later time (e.g., ask their peers and record their responses).
Read the previous Teacher Tip: Try Something New: Phonemic Awareness Instruction
Questions to Consider
- How do you use surveys in your classroom?
- What types of surveys do your students enjoy creating the most?
- What part of data management is the most challenging for your students?
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