Grade 4 · Technology Applications
Quarter 2 · Week 4 · TEKS
This text lesson has a separate video watch page so search engines and learners can treat the written lesson and the video lesson as distinct resources.
This lesson introduces Grade 4 students to data literacy by teaching them how to classify numerical and non-numerical data and use digital search strategies to collect data effectively. Students will learn to use two or more keywords within specific parameters to find information and understand the difference between types of data. The lesson emphasizes safe and responsible technology use while engaging students in guided and independent practice activities.
Students should understand basic computer and internet navigation skills and have experience using a keyboard to type simple words or phrases.
Data is information collected for a purpose. It can be numerical, such as numbers representing ages or quantities, or non-numerical, such as names, colors, or categories. Teaching students to classify data helps them organize information and understand what kind of data they are working with. For example, a list of students' ages is numerical data, while a list of their favorite colors is non-numerical data.
Numerical data includes any data that can be measured or counted and expressed as numbers. Non-numerical data includes descriptive information that cannot be measured with numbers, such as words or labels. Students should practice sorting mixed data sets into these two categories to develop their classification skills.
Digital search strategies involve using keywords to find information online. Using two or more keywords narrows down search results to be more specific and relevant. Parameters are limits or filters set to focus the search, such as searching within a certain website or date range. Teaching students to combine keywords and use parameters helps them collect accurate and useful data.
While collecting data digitally, students must follow safety rules such as not sharing personal information, using strong passwords if accounts are needed, and logging off devices after use. Responsible use also means respecting others' work and avoiding plagiarism by collecting data ethically.
Teachers should demonstrate how to classify data and perform a digital search step by step. For example, show how to enter two keywords into a search engine and apply filters. Then guide students through a practice activity where they classify a sample dataset and perform a simple search using given keywords and parameters.
You have a list of data: 12, 7, 9, blue, red, green, 15. Sort this data into numerical and non-numerical categories.
The numbers 12, 7, 9, and 15 are numerical data because they are numbers representing quantities. The words blue, red, and green are non-numerical data because they are color names, which are categories or labels.
Numerical data: 12, 7, 9, 15; Non-numerical data: blue, red, green.
You want to find information about animals that live in the desert. Which search keywords could you use to find good data?
Using two or more keywords like 'desert animals' helps narrow the search to animals living in the desert. Adding parameters like searching only in educational websites can improve the quality of results.
Keywords: desert animals; Parameters: limit search to educational sites or recent articles.
Introduce the concept of data by showing examples of numerical and non-numerical data from everyday life, such as a list of students' ages and favorite colors.
Discuss with a partner what kinds of information are numbers and what kinds are words or categories.
This activity activates prior knowledge about data and helps students begin to see differences between numerical and non-numerical data.
Provide students with a mixed list of data items and ask them to sort the items into numerical and non-numerical groups.
Work individually or in pairs to classify the data items into two groups: numerical and non-numerical.
Sorting data helps students practice classification and understand the difference between data types.
Demonstrate how to use a digital search tool to find data using two or more keywords and applying search parameters such as site or date filters.
Observe the demonstration and ask questions about how keywords and parameters help narrow search results.
Using multiple keywords and parameters makes searches more precise and helps find relevant data faster.
Assign students a task to collect data on a simple topic using a digital search with at least two keywords and specific parameters, then classify the collected data as numerical or non-numerical.
Use a computer or tablet to search for data, record findings, and classify data types.
This activity applies learned skills to a real data collection task, reinforcing classification and search strategies.
Ask students to explain how they classified data and describe the search strategies they used to collect data.
Present their data classification and explain the search process used, including keywords and parameters.
Explaining their process demonstrates understanding of data types and digital search strategies.
Work individually or in pairs to classify the data items into two groups: numerical and non-numerical.
Sort this data into numerical and non-numerical: 3, 8, apple, orange, 12.
Numerical data: 3, 8, 12; Non-numerical data: apple, orange.
What are two keywords you could use to search for information about space planets?
Keywords: space planets or planets in space.
Explain why it is helpful to use two or more keywords when searching for data.
Using two or more keywords narrows the search results to be more specific and relevant.
How can you tell if data is numerical or non-numerical?
Numerical data are numbers you can count or measure; non-numerical data are words or categories.
What is one way to use search parameters when looking for data?
You can limit your search to certain websites or dates to find better results.
Provide printed examples of data to sort before using digital tools. Use guided questions to help classify data. Offer a list of keywords to choose from for searches.
Use visuals and real-life examples to explain numerical and non-numerical data. Provide sentence frames for describing data classification. Demonstrate search steps slowly and clearly with repetition.
Challenge students to create their own search parameters for a topic. Have students explain the importance of data classification in real-world contexts. Encourage students to explore different digital tools for data collection.
Encourage students to collect data at home, such as family members' favorite foods or ages, and classify the data into numerical and non-numerical categories to share with the class.
In this lesson, students learned to classify data as numerical or non-numerical and use digital search strategies with multiple keywords and parameters to collect data. They practiced sorting data, performing searches, and explaining their methods while following safe technology practices. These skills help students become confident in managing and understanding data using technology.
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