A typical lesson for Curriculum for Wales - Maths

Curriculum for Wales Alignment

This unit supports the four purposes by helping pupils become:

• Enterprising, creative contributors – by designing surveys and presenting data creatively.
• Ethical, informed citizens – by exploring real-world issues and their impact.
• Ambitious, capable learners – by applying mathematical reasoning to authentic problems.
• Healthy, confident individuals – by working collaboratively and reflecting on their learning.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the unit, pupils will be able to:

• Design and conduct a data collection method (e.g., survey or observation)
• Represent data using appropriate graphs and charts
• Calculate and interpret averages and measures of spread
• Identify patterns, trends, and anomalies
• Communicate findings clearly using mathematical language

Lesson Sequence (6–8 Lessons)

1. Introduction to Real-World Data

   • Explore examples of how data is used in society
   • Discuss ethical considerations in data collection

2. Designing a Data Investigation

   • Pupils choose a topic of interest (e.g., screen time, recycling habits)
   • Plan how to collect data (sampling, survey design)

3. Collecting and Organising Data

   • Conduct surveys or gather secondary data
   • Organise data in tables and spreadsheets

4. Representing Data

   • Create bar charts, pie charts, line graphs, and scatter plots
   • Use digital tools (e.g., Excel or Desmos)

5. Analysing Data

   • Calculate mean, median, mode, range
   • Identify trends and make comparisons

6. Drawing Conclusions and Communicating Findings

   • Write a report or create a presentation
   • Reflect on the reliability and limitations of their data

7. Cross-Curricular Extension (Optional)

   • Link to geography, science, or health and wellbeing
   • Explore how data informs decision-making in other subjects

Assessment Opportunities

• Formative assessment through group discussions and teacher questioning
• Peer feedback on data presentations
• Summative assessment via a final project report or presentation

Why This Unit Works

This unit:

• Encourages learner agency by allowing pupils to choose their own topic
• Develops critical thinking and numerical reasoning
• Embeds digital competence through data handling tools
• Supports progression by building on prior knowledge and extending it meaningfully

Final Thoughts

The Curriculum for Wales invites us to rethink what maths can be. By designing units like “Data Detectives,” we move beyond worksheets and into the real world—where maths becomes a tool for understanding, questioning, and shaping the world around us.