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Graph a Week

To teach graphing and data collection skills, have students in your class respond to a question each week. Determine ahead of time how the information is going to be collected.

1. Your first concern should be the type of graph you will use. Sample graphs are: Bar or Picture Graphs, Venn Diagrams, or Yes/No Graphs.

2. Once the type has been selected, you need to think of a question which could be easily answered by each student immediately, such as:

"What is your favorite breakfast food?"

You would then write choices like: Cereal, Eggs, Bagels, Pancakes, etc. The questions should be personal questions about their interests, families, where they live, etc. These questions and choices could be posted on a bulletin board in the room where students will have the opportunity to view and add information.

3. Have students add their own data using tally marks beside each category. This should be done on Monday to begin the weekly graph.

4. On Tuesday, have students write 2 sentences in their journals about the graph (draw 2 conclusions from the data).

5. On Wednesday, process the information in cooperative learning teams and in a whole group discussion. Use the data to talk about range, mode, median, mean, etc.

Not only will students learn graphing skills, they will learn about each other!

Some fun ways to collect data for the simple Yes/No Questions:

Try setting up a balance scale under the question. Put the word "Yes" on one pan and the word "No" on the other. For example, "Do you like to read?" Students add their data by dropping a marble in one pan or the other.

Another way to collect this data is to hang two pieces of yarn from a card with the headings Yes and No. Students clip clothespins on the yarn strings to record their data.

Finally, try using two wooden skewers stuck down in a ball of clay. Students slide a Fruit Loop down over the skewer with the word Yes for a "yes" response, or the one that says No for a "no" response.

Here are a few questions in each area to get you started:

Bar Graph or Picture Graph Topics

In what region of the country were you born? (Northeast, Southeast, West, Foreign Country, etc.)

What is your eye color?

What is your favorite musical group/singer?

What is your favorite hobby?

What is your favorite sport?

What is your favorite subject? (Math, Reading, Science, etc.)

How many large pieces of pizza can you eat? (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, more than 5)

Venn Diagram Topics (Two or Three Circle)

Which subjects do you like? (Choices: Math, Reading, Science)?

What kind of pet do you have? (Choices: Dog, Cat, Bird)

How do you get to school? (Bus, Walk, Car)

Yes/No Questions

Do you have any sisters or brothers?

Have you ever ridden on an airplane?

Have you ever traveled outside of the United States?

Some general questions which may be adapted to fit the above categories:

How many...?
people in your family
rooms in your house
cars in your family
televisions in your house
letters in your name
pockets on what you're wearing

At what time...?
do you eat dinner
do you get up
do you go to bed
do you leave for school
is your favorite TV show on

How much time in a week do you spend...?
watching television
doing homework
playing
reading
on a bus or in a car
eating
doing chores
alone

Who's your favorite...?
movie star
TV star
book character
sportsperson

What's your favorite...?
ice cream flavor
color
TV program
kind of car
game or sport
pet
season
holiday
movie
food
song
brand of jeans
book
animal
toy
musical instrument
pizza topping

How old do you think your teacher is?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
In which month were you born?
How much is your weekly allowance?
What is the last number of your telephone number?
How many times can you hop on one foot?

Thanks to Laura C., Avis B., and Angie A. on our Connection for these ideas!

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