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Types of Graphs

Types of Graphs

TEKS Objective

The student is expected to construct maps, graphic organizers, simple tables, charts, and bar graphs using tools and current technology to organize, examine, and evaluate measured data.

Essential Understanding

The student uses scientific inquiry methods during laboratory and outdoor investigations.

Science Background

Using Graphs and Visual Data: Visionlearning (website) - Detailed information about the use and importance of visual representations (i.e., graphs and figures) for data analysis and interpretation. Includes references for further reading and additional learning modules.

Using Graphs and Visual Data
Visionlearning, www.visionlearning.com

Data and Graphs: Ligonier Valley School District (PowerPoint) – This slide show gives examples of different types of commonly used graphs and explains which kind of data can be used for each graph type.

Data and Graphs
Ligonier Valley School District, www.lvmsmath6.wikispaces.com

Representing Data, Introduction: KS3 Bitesize/BBC (website) - Links to information on creating and understanding different types of graphs or charts used to organize and represent scientific data: bar charts, line graphs, pictograms, pie charts, frequency diagrams and scatter diagrams.

Representing Data, Introduction
KS3 Bitesize/BBC, www.bbc.co.uk

Signature Lesson

Creating a Bar Graph: My NASA Data/NASA (website) - Simple lesson that uses authentic NASA data to teach students basic bar graph construction.

Creating a Bar Graph
My NASA Data/NASA, mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov

Supporting Lessons

Bar Graphs: Teachers.net (website) – Students line up by the month of their birthdays to create a human bar graph.  Then, the class makes another bar chart displaying their favorite breakfast cereals.

Bar Graphs
Teachers.net

Elaboration Lessons and Extensions

The Daily Ups and Downs: How To Smile (website) – Students elaborate on the monthly temperature bar chart by creating a daily temperature line graph, learning the difference between and bar and line graph in the process.

The Daily Ups and Downs
HowToSmile, www.howtosmile.org

Assessment Ideas

Assess your students by giving them a set of data, complete with different categories/variables, and having them create an appropriately labeled and titled bar chart. 

Create a Bar Graph: National Center for Educational Statistics (website) – Students can use this online tool to create bar charts after they have correctly organized their data.  There is also an example data set included on the page.

Create a Bar Graph
National Center for Educational Statistics, nces.ed.gov

Literature Connections

Great Tables, Graphs, Charts, Diagrams & Timelines You Can Make. Zike, Dinah (ISBN-13: 978-1882796144)

Beginning Charts, Graphs & Diagrams. Carratello, Patty (ISBN-13: 978-1557341686)

Related Science TEKS

(3.1A) Science Safety
The student is expected to demonstrate safe practices as described in the Texas Safety Standards during classroom and outdoor investigations, including observing a schoolyard habitat.

(3.1B) Recycling/Disposal of Science Materials
The student is expected to make informed choices in the use and conservation of natural resources by recycling or reusing materials such as paper, aluminum cans, and plastics.

(3.2A) Plan and Implement Descriptive Investigation
The student is expected to plan and implement descriptive investigations, including asking and answering questions, making inferences, and selecting and using equipment or technology needed, to solve a specific problem in the natural world.

(3.2B) Collect Data
The student is expected to collect data by observing and measuring using the metric system and recognize differences between observed and measured data.

(3.2C) Graphs, Tables, Charts
The student is expected to construct maps, graphic organizers, simple tables, charts, and bar graphs using tools and current technology to organize, examine, and evaluate measured data.

(3.2D) Analyze Evidence and Explain
The student is expected to analyze and interpret patterns in data to construct reasonable explanations based on evidence from investigations.

(3.2E) Value of Repeated Experiments
The student is expected to demonstrate that repeated investigations may increase the reliability of results.

(3.2F) Communicate Conclusions
The student is expected to communicate valid conclusions supported by data in writing, by drawing pictures, and through verbal discussion.

(3.4A) Tools for Collecting and Analyzing Information
The student is expected to collect, record, and analyze information using tools, including microscopes, cameras, computers, hand lenses, metric rulers, Celsius thermometers, wind vanes, rain gauges, pan balances, graduated cylinders, beakers, spring scales, hot plates, meter sticks, compasses, magnets, collecting nets, notebooks, sound recorders, and Sun, Earth, and Moon system models; timing devices, including clocks and stopwatches; and materials to support observation of habitats of organisms such as terrariums and aquariums.

(3.4B) Safety Equipment
The student is expected to use safety equipment as appropriate, including safety goggles and gloves.

Related Math TEKS

3.13A  The student is expected to collect, organize, record, and display data in pictographs and bar graphs where each picture or cell might represent more than one piece of data.

3.13B  The student is expected to interpret information from pictographs and bar graphs.

Additional Resources

How to Make a Graph and Chart Made Easy: Easy-Science-Fair-Projects.net (website) - Step-by-step explanation of how to organize information using graphs and charts. 

How to Make a Graph and Chart Made Easy
Easy-Science-Fair-Projects.net

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