You can no longer submit your playground survey data, but you can still do all of the activities with your class.
A fun whole class DataInformation collected for use elsewhere. collection activity that uses the 麻豆官网首页入口 micro:bit as a ThermometerA device that measures temperature. to record surface TemperatureA measure of how hot something is. in four different areas of the school playground. Pupils will answer the question:
How does the surface material of our playground affect the surface temperature?
Download a poster for your class to keep track of your results .
Watch the video
How to complete the activity
Download the resources. documentDownload the resources
Download the teacher instructions, pupil worksheet, class poster, curriculum map and parent/carer letter.
Visit the Micro:bit Educational Foundation's how to guide for coding instructions or to download the code.
Discuss findings, make links and consider data-led actions.
Playground survey teacher notes
- To complete this survey activity you will need the helpful and .
- This activity is primarily a science investigation linked to the thermal properties of different materials. Pupils will have a chance to think about fair testing, taking and recording repeated measurements and analysing their data.
- It is a great opportunity to use and develop mathematical skills including data handling (data tables, bar charts, line graphs) and simple statistical analysis (calculating averages, percentages).
- It is also a good example of geographical fieldwork, to enable pupils to answer geographical questions about the local area.
- We would love to see how your class is getting involved with the 麻豆官网首页入口 micro:bit playground survey. Why not share updates about your activities on social media and let us know by tagging @麻豆官网首页入口_Teach and using #麻豆官网首页入口playgroundsurvey
Topics covered
- Computing/ICT: InputData sent to a computer for processing such as button presses and sensor readings. and OutputData sent from a computer such as information shown on the LED display.; Using a SensorAn input that senses things in the real world, such as movement, temperature, and light levels.; Events.
- Science: Thermal properties of materials, taking and recording measurements; HabitatThe places where plants, animals and other living things exist. (sunny and shady) linked to plant and animal diversity and classification.
- Maths and Numeracy: Averages.
- Geography/Humanities: Weather; Human/physical features; Carrying out fieldwork to answer a question.
- Design and Technology: Applying their understanding of computing to ProgramA set of instructions written in code that performs a given task., monitor and control their products; Designing products to fulfil a design brief and/or solve a problem.
Suggested learning objectives
- Introduction and planning: To compare and group together everyday materials on the basis of their properties, including their thermal conductivity (Science).
- Optional coding: To combine CodeInstructions written in a way that a computer can understand. blocks to create a program; To understand input/outputs; To understand simple VariableA container for storing data which can be accessed and updated while a program is running. (Computing/ICT).
- Fieldwork: To measure temperature using appropriate standard units (Maths and Numeracy); To take measurements, using a range of scientific equipment, with increasing accuracy and precision and take repeat readings when appropriate (Science).
- Data analysis and recording: To recognise that changes in materials affect their properties and uses (Science); To calculate and interpret the mean as an average and interpret information in the context of an enquiry question (Maths/Geography/Humanities).
Suggested extension activities
- Science: Try the investigation on sunny/cloudy days, in different seasons and after changes to the playground; explore different materials back in the classroom to find out more about their thermal properties.
- Maths and Numeracy: Present the data in a range of different ways (including different types of graph); calculate percentage differences.
- Geography/Humanities: Create maps of the playground showing the location of different surfaces, sun or shade; carry out further fieldwork/surveys to answer similar geographical questions.
- Design and Technology: Design a case or box to protect the microbit and to support the user to operate it correctly as a thermometer.
- Art/English: Design a newspaper advert for a micro:bit thermometer; Write to someone in relation to a playground re-design.
More activities from the playground survey
Use the micro:bit Biodiversity Counter program to investigate the number of different species of plants and animals in your playground.
Measure distances to calculate the area of your school playground using the clever micro:bit Distance Calculator program.
A helpful glossary to increase your confidence when teaching the seven 麻豆官网首页入口 micro:bit playground survey activities.