What children at my school think about the

courtyardOlivia Wallis

Age 10

Introduction

What is the courtyard?• It is an outside area where we can grow things and

sometimes where we learn.• It is next to the Hawks classroom• The Hawks are a year 5 and 6 class

Why this topic?• I wanted to do this topic to see what people thought about it• I wanted to find out who people thought the courtyard should

belong to, what should be in it, and who should look after it.

What is my research question?• What do children at my school think about the courtyard?

Methodology Who were my participants?• I handed out my questionnaire to Key Stage 2 children at my

school• I handed out about 50 questionnaires• I got 18 back• I chose these children because I thought they would be able to

read the questionnaire, as younger children might not understand the words.

What methods did I use?• I collected my data using a questionnaire• I used a mix of open and closed questions• For the closed questions I analysed them by drawing a tally chart • For my open questions I analysed them by using coding. I typed

up all of my answers and trimmed them individually. Then I sorted them out into groups which had the same theme.

• My research project took 5 months.

Ethical Issues

• To make sure the questionnaire was anonymous I made sure people did not put their names on it.

• I made sure that the questionnaires were confidential by keeping them in a locked cupboard.

• I made sure that I didn’t put complicated words in, so people could understand it.

FindingsQuestion 3

•This shows that 9 people said that everyone should use it. However of the 6 Hawks girls asked, 5 said the courtyard should belong to Hawks•This might be because they want it all for themselves, without the younger children

What do you think we should use the courtyard for?

Coding category

Examples of answers

Playtime More play equipment – water fountain for drinking.Mabie on nice days at break time... each class can play games...we will need seating

Quiet area Quiet time, ReflectionGardening area

Eating food When it’s hot, eat our food out there.

Outside learning

Discovering new things about nature.Outdoor learning, free time

Growing plants and vegetables

Fruit patchGardening area for plants and things like that.

Question 4

This shows that a lot of people have different opinions about what they want to use the courtyard for

Amount of children

Question 5

This shows that most people do want seating in the courtyard. They might want seating in the courtyard because when it’s a hot day they could sit in the courtyard.

Question 6

This shows that a big majority said that they would like plants in the courtyard. Maybe this is because they would like it to smell nice or look pretty.

If yes, what type of plants would you like?

Coding category Examples of answers

Flowers Flowers More flowers

Fruit + Veg Fruit plantsFruit and veg

Trees More small plants and trees A small tree mabie

Colourful Colourful onesBright, colourful ones

Other I don't know. A range of different.

Question 7

This shows that there were a lot of different opinions about what should be planted in the courtyard. However a lot of people said they would like fruit and veg. Maybe because this is because they want to be healthy.

Question 8

This shows that there are a lot of people willing to help look after the courtyard. 11 children out of 18 said they would help.

What would you be willing help with?

Coding category Examples of answers

Construction Decorating. Construction of seating

Watering Watering the plants. Watering plants

Cleaning and tidying Dry the seats. Keeping it tidy.

Planting Plant them. Planting

Everything Everything. All of it

Question 9

Do you have any suggestions about the

courtyard?Coding category Examples of answers

No suggestion No. Not really.

Other Make it neater I think abit messy. like I said before I think and possibly make it into a garden.

Chairs, tables Working table. We could have deck chairs and a table in the courtyard.

Question 10

This shows that there are some other suggestions that people have, such as chairs and tables. Maybe this would be good to work at.

Conclusion What I found out• Out of 18 people, 9 said that everyone should be able to

use the courtyard. Of the 6 Hawks girls asked, 5 said that just the Hawks should use it

• My research has found out that a lot of people would like some more seating in the courtyard. 14 out of 18 people said this.

• I also found that a lot of people would be willing to help with the courtyard.

How did my project go?• I think it went quite well, because I found out everything

that I wanted to find out• If I did it again I would try and hand it out to more people so

I got more questionnaires back.

Thank you for listening