Guest Post: Polly Owen
Author of Do Sharks Like Ice Cream?
Why Children Need to Know About Statistics
Data, Data Everywhere!
Everyone is swimming in data. Collecting it, viewing it and sharing it – from steps on your Fitbit to cookies on your computer. But when should children start to learn about data?
I was surprised, that, although there were many books about maths for primary school children, there were few (possibly none) about statistics alone. It felt like an important and wide-ranging topic to cover, and so, with the help of my ever-enthusiastic 10-year-old son, we took a deep dive into the world of statistics!
Making and Breaking Codes
The conversations with my son quickly spread from code-breaking (the Enigma machine) and cyber security to winning at games, like rock, paper, scissors. Which moves were more likely? And what patterns could you spot to help predict the next move?
Pretty soon, I had a book full of statistics and its wide-ranging applications.
Paradoxes
One area that interested us both was paradoxes – facts that are counterintuitive, but true.
For example, how can it be, that in a class of thirty, it is more likely than not that two children will share a birthday? It doesn’t seem right. But a quick check of classes in a school shows that 70% will have children that share a birthday. And this is why…
Making a Difference Today
Winning at games is one thing, but children can use statistics to have a real impact. Starting with a child’s first tally chart, showing ‘the different ways pupils travel to school’, data puts knowledge into their hands. They can be the first to know if a school needs a new bicycle lane or a pedestrian crossing.
And taking part in citizen science projects means they can help to monitor wildlife or stars in the sky, and be part of something huge!
Inspiring Individuals
Curiosity and pattern spotting are innate human traits that have led to some wonderful discoveries.
I wanted to celebrate those individuals who asked questions and found their own answers by collecting data. Nurse Florence Nightingale is one of the figures celebrated in this book. She discovered more patients in her hospital were dying from infections than war injuries. Many of the inidivudals celebrated didn’t think of themselves as statisticians, but as nurses, inventors and problem solvers.
And the same goes for today. Whether someone aims to be an ‘influencer’, looking at the number of ‘likes’ on a post, or a meteorologist, forecasting the next big hurricane, data will be an essential part of their job.
Being Data Savvy
With misinformation and misleading statistics rife, it’s never too early to treat statistics with a healthy degree of scepticism. I included some fictional adverts with dubious statistics, using tiny sample sizes, free products and leading questions.
Introducing terms such as ‘significant’ and ‘confident’ give the reader the vocabulary to discuss how useful these statistics are.
What Next?
‘Do Shark’s Like Ice Cream? The Surprising World of Statistics’ was a joy to write, and has a 10-year-old’s seal of approval! I’m hoping children reading this book will gain a knowledge of what statistics are and use it as a springboard to other areas that interest them.
And do sharks like ice cream? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out!
‘Do Shark’s Like Ice Cream? The Surprising World of Statistics’ is part of the OUP Readerful series. The language and mathematical concepts are suitable for independent readers, aged 10+. Illustrations by Cristina Guitian.
Thank you to Polly for visiting our blog this week to tell us more about the new book about statistics for children. Do Sharks Like Ice Cream? is available from Amazon or Bookshop.
Polly’s previous book, Darwin’s Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular, features on a number of our popular booklists for primary schools including:
- Year 2 Recommended Reading List
- Famous Scientists Booklist
- Top-Notch Non-Fiction For Children
- Minibeasts Topic Booklist
- Celebrating Science: Best Children’s Books
Check out our reading for pleasure and curriculum booklists to find more books for children in KS1.
Where next?
> Visit our Reading for Pleasure Hub
> Browse our Topic Booklists
> View our printable year group booklists.
> See our Books of the Month.