Plants and Crocodiles

This article explores the integration of data literacy within elementary education through the lens of two illustrative examples from Scottish schools. The featured projects highlight the adaptation of the Problem-Plan-Data-Analysis-Conclusions (PPDAC) cycle to classroom settings, combining traditional pedagogical strategies with real-world data interaction. The cases presented involve primary school students (Grades 4–6) engaging with data through experiential learning—monitoring classroom air quality and comparing humidity in animal habitats. These projects not only enhanced students' data handling skills but also promoted critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities. Both examples illustrate teachers' roles in facilitating data-centric inquiry and encouraging learner agency and engagement through context-rich tasks. We hope to provide teachers and curriculum designers with working examples of PPDAC cycle and additional resources to teach data literacy creatively and confidently in primary schools.