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Class surveys

Create surveys about favourite books, sports, pets and foods.

Quick answer

Class surveys help us find out what people like or think about different things, like their favourite books, sports, or foods. We collect this information by asking questions and then we can see what most people choose.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to create a simple class survey, ask questions to your friends or family, collect their answers, and show what people chose using pictures or numbers. Success signs:
  • You can ask a question that people can answer with a choice
  • You can collect answers from at least 5 people
  • You can show your results with a picture or a list
  • You can say what most people chose

Why this matters

Class surveys are useful because they help us understand what others think and feel. This is important in school, at home, and in the world. When we know what people like, we can make better choices. For example, if we know that most children in class like football, we might plan a football game for playtime. Surveys are also used by shops to know what toys people want, or by politicians to understand what people need. Learning how to make surveys helps you become a better thinker and decision-maker.

How it works

Making a class survey is like being a detective. First, you need to choose a question that people can answer with a choice. Then, you ask people to answer your question. After that, you collect their answers. Finally, you show the results so everyone can see what most people chose. Here's how it works step by step:
  1. Choose a question that people can answer with a choice (like "What is your favourite fruit?" or "What is your favourite sport?")
  2. Ask people to answer your question
  3. Write down or draw what they say
  4. Look at all the answers and see which one was chosen most often

Examples you can see

Let's imagine you are making a survey to find out what your classmates like to eat for lunch. You might ask: "What is your favourite lunch food?" Here are some answers from 6 children in your class:
  • Amy says pizza
  • Ben says sandwiches
  • Carla says pasta
  • David says pizza
  • Eva says salad
  • Finn says sandwiches
Now, let's show these answers in a table:
Food Number of Children
Pizza 2
Sandwiches 2
Pasta 1
Salad 1
You can see that pizza and sandwiches are chosen by 2 children each. So, pizza and sandwiches are the most popular foods for lunch.

Try it as a mini adventure

Let's go on a survey adventure! You are the survey leader for your class. Your mission is to find out what your classmates like to do in their free time.
  1. First, think of a question: "What is your favourite free time activity?"
  2. Ask 5 friends in your class to answer your question
  3. Write down their answers
  4. Draw a picture showing how many chose each activity
  5. Look at your results and say which activity was chosen most often
Here is a space for your results:
Activity Number of Children
Playing games ?
Reading books ?
Playing outside ?
Watching TV ?
Can you fill in the numbers and find out which activity is the most popular?

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Asking a question that has many answers, like "What do you like to do?" This is too open and hard to collect.
    Why it happens: Children might not know how to ask a good question.
    Fix: Use a question with choices, like "What is your favourite sport?" with options like football, basketball, or swimming.
  • Mistake: Not asking enough people to answer.
    Why it happens: Children might think one or two answers are enough.
    Fix: Ask at least 5 people to make your survey more accurate.
  • Mistake: Forgetting to write down or draw the answers.
    Why it happens: Children might get excited and forget to record the information.
    Fix: Use a piece of paper or a chart to write or draw each answer as you get it.
  • Mistake: Not checking if the answers match the question.
    Why it happens: Children might not read the question carefully.
    Fix: Read the question again and make sure each answer fits the question.

Parent and carer guide

Parents and carers can help by:
  • Choosing a simple question for the child to ask, like "What is your favourite snack?"
  • Helping the child write or draw the answers
  • Encouraging the child to ask at least 5 people
  • Looking at the results together and discussing what they found
  • Helping the child show the results in a simple way, like a chart or drawing
It's important to remember that this is a learning activity, not a test. If the child makes mistakes, that's okay! It's part of learning. Try to be patient and celebrate their efforts.

Practice questions

  1. What is a good question for a class survey about snacks?
    • Answer: What is your favourite snack?
  2. How many people should you ask for a good survey?
    • Answer: At least 5 people
  3. What is one way to show your survey results?
    • Answer: Draw a picture or make a chart
  4. What is the most popular choice in this survey?
    Choice Number of People
    Ice cream 4
    Candy 3
    Fruit 5
    • Answer: Fruit
  5. Which of these is NOT a good survey question?
    • Answer: What do you like to do?

FAQ

What is a class survey?

A class survey is a way to ask questions to your classmates and find out what they think or like about something.

How do I make a class survey?

First, choose a question with choices. Then, ask people to answer. Finally, collect and show the answers.

Why do we need surveys?

Surveys help us understand what people like or think. This helps us make better choices for ourselves and others.

Can I use surveys at home?

Yes! You can ask your family about their favourite foods, books, or games.

What is the best way to show survey results?

You can show results with drawings, charts, or lists. The most important thing is to show the answers clearly so everyone can understand.