Event Planner

Students will:

• Be able to develop and administer a survey.
• Be able to analyze the data collected.
• Be able to present their findings to the necessary adults.

Vocabulary Words:

1. Poll: A poll is a survey taken to gather information.  I will poll my neighbors to find out their favorite dessert.

To prepare for this activity:

• The teacher will need to become familiar with a survey site such as Poll Everywhere or Survey Monkey. 

  • Poll Everywhere Quickstart Guide

  • SurveyMonkey: Create and publish online surveys in minutes | Complete Tutorial for Beginners

• Talk to PTO or other event planners for the school to find out about upcoming events that need to be planned.  (Options may include: dance or activity afternoon, field day, holiday party, or other school activity)
   
• Decide which event your students will help plan and talk to the necessary event planners about your lesson

See Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students.net site in the Teacher Resources. 

Directions for this activity:

Part 1 (30 min)

1. Present the problem to students, for example, Mr. Richards is planning field day and needs our help. He doesn’t know which games or events to include. We need to find out from students what kind of games or events they would enjoy the most.
2. Students work in small groups to develop two or three questions to ask students on the survey. Tell them to try to stay away from asking specific game questions, such as, “Do you want to have a relay race?” and to ask more questions, such as, “Do you enjoy walking or running more?” or “Are you good at throwing a softball?” You may want to do one or two together.
3. Collect student questions and have the class decide which ones to use in the survey.
4. As a class create the survey using the determined program or format.
5. Administer the survey. This could be done by sending a link to an online survey to other teachers to share with their students or by having designated computers set up in an area of the school for students to use as certain times of the day, such as lunch or recess. (If a paper version was created pass out to other teachers and ask them to compile the data before returning to your class. This will save your class the time of compiling the data prior to analysis. An online survey would compile the data for you.)

Part 2 (30 min)

1. In small groups have students look at the compiled data and make a list of three things they notice and three determinations they can make from the information. For example, there are 25 students who like to run more than walk. These students may like a running race as an event.
2. As a class discuss the observations and determinations made in the small groups.
3. Have students use the information collected to create a proposal for the event. For example, it could be a list of the 10 games they think would be best at field day or the 5 top snacks that students would enjoy at the Valentine Dance.

Optional: (At another time) Have the adults in charge of the event come to the class for the students to present their findings.

Different options for assessing the students:

• Observations: Some options to look for are:
  • How students work together
  • Data collection
  • Analysis accuracy
• Collect and score students’ observation notes after data analysis.
• Check for understanding.