What it shows
Survey answers are counted with COUNTIF and shown as a pie chart with percentages. It teaches data collection, counting and choosing the right chart.
The science
A pie chart shows how a whole is divided into parts, so it suits shares that add to 100 percent, like the modes of travel. Each slice angle is the fraction of the class times 360 degrees. COUNTIF turns a long list of answers into counts, and the spreadsheet then draws the slices for you. A bar chart is better when there are many categories.
Materials
Cost: free. Many items come from home or from waste; spare parts such as LEDs, motors and wire are in the store.
- A computer, laptop or phone with a browser (free)
- A spreadsheet program: LibreOffice Calc (free) or Google Sheets (free)
- A class of 30 or more to ask, and a sheet of paper to tally on
- A notebook and a pencil
Safety
This project uses safe, everyday materials. Still, read the rules below with a parent before you start.
Never use mains electricity: power models with cells, batteries or a low-voltage adapter. Sharp and hot tools, flames and lab chemicals need an adult or your teacher beside you. Keep magnets, button cells and small parts away from young children, and wash your hands after making.
Step by step
8 steps. Do them in order, and test each part before you go on to the next. Write what you notice in a notebook as you go.
Ask each classmate how they travel to school (walk, cycle, bus, auto, car, other) and tally the answers on paper without writing names.
In a spreadsheet type the heading Mode in A1 and write one answer per row from A2 down, so each row is one student.
In column D type Mode in D1 and list the six modes in D2 to D7, and type Count in E1.
In E2 type =COUNTIF($A$2:$A$40,D2) and copy it down to E7.
In F1 type Percent and in F2 type =E2/SUM($E$2:$E$7) formatted as percent, then copy down.
Select D1:E7 and choose Insert, Chart, then pick Pie and tick data labels to show percentages.
Add a chart title such as How Class 8 travels to school and compare the pie with a bar chart of the same data.
Write three sentences about what the chart shows, for example which mode is the most common and why.
What you should see
A pie chart with a slice for each travel mode with percentages, and a count table that adds to the number of students surveyed.
Viva questions
A teacher or a judge will ask how it works. Try to answer each question before you open it, then compare.
01What does a pie chart show?
How a whole is split into parts.
02What is COUNTIF used for here?
To count how many students gave each answer.
03Why not write names in the survey?
It protects privacy and the names are not needed.
04When is a bar chart better?
When there are many categories or the values must be compared closely.
Take it further
Repeat the survey in another class and draw a side by side bar chart to compare.
Change one thing, measure what happens, and add a table or chart of your readings: that is what turns a model into your own investigation.
Free ebooks for this project
Computer & office
MS Excel Study Book
The complete study notes, practice questions and glossary for MS Excel
Computer & office
Excel Formulas Workbook
Sixty formulas and functions, each with a worked example from school, shop or office
Find out more about computing and coding
Free, well-known places to explore the subject further. Ask a grown-up before you sign up for anything or type your name anywhere.