DIG091A · Term 2 Week 1 Lesson 3
Analysing Data in Excel
Use sorting, filtering and formulas to turn Brisbane rainfall data into useful information for a city planner.
🎯 Learning Intentions
- Analyse structured data to identify patterns and trends.
- Apply sorting, filtering and formulas to extract meaning.
- Interpret results to answer real-world questions.
✅ Success Criteria
- I can use sorting and filtering.
- I can use COUNTIF or AVERAGE.
- I can explain what the data is telling me.
🔥 Mission
A city planner needs to decide when to schedule roadworks. They have Brisbane rainfall data for 2024, but they need help finding useful information.
Your question: When is the best time of year to schedule outdoor work?
🧠 Data → Information
Data: raw numbers and text.
Information: meaning extracted from many data points.
Example: 2/01/2024 = 187.4 mm is data. “January had very high rainfall, so roadworks may be risky” is information.
🧰 Excel Tools
SORT arrange data in order
FILTER show only rows that match criteria
FUNCTIONS summarise many rows quickly
🌧️ Interactive Rainfall Dataset
Use the controls below to practise the same thinking before using Excel.
| Date | Month | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|
🧮 Formula Practice
In Excel, the rainfall values are in the Quantity column.
=AVERAGE(G2:G367)
=COUNTIF(G2:G367, ">10")
📈 Monthly Rainfall Totals
Look for patterns, trends and outliers.
Hint: Lower rainfall months may be better for outdoor work, but always check the whole context.
🧩 Quick Check
Which tool would best help you find the wettest days first?
🛠️ Class Task
- Open the rainfall CSV in Excel.
- Sort rainfall from highest to lowest.
- Filter rainfall above 10 mm.
- Use COUNTIF or AVERAGE.
- Write a 1–2 sentence answer to: When is the best time of year to schedule outdoor work?
Sentence starters
- I noticed a pattern where…
- This data shows that…
- The best months for outdoor work may be…
- I know this because I used…
💬 Exit Ticket
Answer in your workbook:
- What tool helped you the most today?
- What pattern did you find?
- Why is analysing data important?
Curriculum links
AC9TDI10P01, AC9TDI10P02, AC9TDI10P04, AC9TDI10P10 and AC9TDI10K02.