← Years 5–6 Data & Information

Organising data in a table with headings

A grid that organises data. Each column has one heading, and each row holds one record, like one student or one pet. There are no blank rows.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Data, Information and Privacy — Module 17, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 51, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Acquiring, storing and validating data — Module 6, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Acquiring, storing and validating data — Module 6, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Acquiring and Storing Data — Module 35, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 6, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Digital Footprints and Data Minimisation — Module 34, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Acquiring and Validating Data — Module 55, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Entities, Relationships and Queries — Module 1

Understanding Organising data in a table with headings in Years 5–6 Data & Information

What it does: This heading row gives each column a clear name, so we know what kind of data to enter below it. All the facts about Sam are kept together in a single row, which is one record in the table. A data table should have no blank rows. Empty rows can cause mistakes when you sort, filter or add up the data. Each new record goes in its own row with no blank rows. The details about Rex go under the existing headings. Without headings we cannot tell what 10 or Dog means. Adding a top row of headings fixes the table.

Common mistakes: Every column needs its own heading. The Age column has no heading. It should be Name | Age | Pet. Each column gets one heading only. Pet and Age were squashed into one heading. It should be Pet | Age | Colour.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 11–20) and word search (Modules 1–20).

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Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning
Duo
In a data table, what does each column have at the top?
A different record for each cellOne heading that names the data in that column
Matches
Name | Age Mia | 10 (blank row) Tom | 11
↓
There is a blank row between records. A data table should have no blank rows, so the blank row should be deleted.
Applying
Meanings
Term
data table
Meaning
A grid that organises data. Each column has one heading, and each row holds one record, like one student or one pet. There are no blank rows.
Practice
Name,Type,Age
Testing
Gaps
Name,,Pet
Check Answer
Spots
1Name | | Pet
2Mia | 10 | Dog

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Quick Questions

1. In a data table, what does each column have at the top?
A. One heading that names the data in that column ✓
B. A different record for each cell
Each column has one heading, such as Name, Age or Pet. It tells you what kind of data is in that column.
2. Which describes how a data table stores records?
A. One column for each record, with all the pets mixed together
B. One row for each record, like one pet ✓
Each row holds one record. If a table is about pets, each row is one pet.
3. A table has the headings Name, Age and Favourite Sport. Which is the best row of data?
A. Mia | 11 | Netball ✓
B. Mia and Netball | 11 | (blank)
Each piece of data goes under the matching heading. Mia goes under Name, 11 under Age and Netball under Favourite Sport.
4. Which table is set up better?
A. Row 1 is Sam, row 2 is Ava, row 3 is Leo, with no gaps ✓
B. Row 1 is Sam, row 2 is empty, row 3 is Ava, row 4 is empty, row 5 is Leo
A data table should have no blank rows. Empty rows can cause mistakes when you sort, filter or add up the data.
5. Which column heading is clearer for a column that holds how tall each student is?
A. Stuff
B. Height (cm) ✓
A good heading says exactly what the data is. 'Height (cm)' tells you what the numbers mean and which unit they use.

Match the Pairs

Name | Age | Pet → A row of column headings that names each column of data in the table
Mia | 10 | Dog → One record, with one row holding all the facts about one student
Each column has one heading that says what data goes in it → Name | Year | Sport
Each row is one record, so one student is one row → Sam | 6 | Netball
Name | Age Mia | 10 (blank row) Tom | 11 → There is a blank row between records. A data table should have no blank rows, so the blank row should be deleted.
Mia | 10 | Dog Tom | 11 | Cat Zoe | 9 | Fish → There is no heading row. Each column needs a heading such as Name, Age and Pet so we know what the data means.

Key Term

data table
A grid that organises data. Each column has one heading, and each row holds one record, like one student or one pet. There are no blank rows.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Name,Age,Pet Mia,10,Dog Sam,11,Cat
Hint: Type the column heading for the numbers that tell how old each student is.
2. Each column has one heading Each row holds one record
Hint: Type the word for the vertical line of cells that has just one heading at the top.
3. Heading row: Name,Pet Record 1: Mia,Dog Record 2: Sam,Cat
Hint: Type the number of the second record in the table.
4. Top row: headings Each row after it holds one record
Hint: Type the word for the single item of data, such as one pet or one student, that each row holds.
5. Heading row: Name,Pet Records: Mia,Dog and Sam,Cat Blank rows: 0
Hint: Type the number of blank rows a well organised table should have.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Name | | Pet
B Mia | 10 | Dog
C Sam | 11 | Cat
Line A — Every column needs its own heading. The Age column has no heading. It should be Name | Age | Pet.
Question 2
A Pet and Age | Colour
B Rex | 3 | Brown
C Kit | 2 | Grey
Line A — Each column gets one heading only. Pet and Age were squashed into one heading. It should be Pet | Age | Colour.
Question 3
A Name | Year | Sport
B | |
C Ben | 6 | Soccer
D Cal | 5 | Tennis
Line B — A table must have no blank rows. This row is empty, so it holds no record. It should be Ava | 5 | Netball.
Question 4
A Book | Pages | Author
B Holes | 233 | Sachar
C Matilda | 240 | Dahl
D Wonder | Palacio | 310
Line D — The values are in the wrong columns. The author is under Pages and the number is under Author. It should be Wonder | 310 | Palacio.
Question 5
A Fruit | Colour | Price
B Apple | Red | 1.20
C Banana, Pear | Yellow | 0.50
D Grape | Green | 3.00
Line C — Each row holds one record. This row squashes two fruits into one row. It should be Banana | Yellow | 0.50, with Pear in its own row.

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