Hi, friends! I’ve been working hard behind the scenes on my course that I will be releasing later this summer. Click here to read all about it. However, I took a break this weekend to look through some of the questions that the community has been asking. One member asked about introducing students to graphing and for some effective, yet fun, resources that will help along the way. Well of course, I have an answer. 🙋🏻♀️
This week, I’m sharing some easy ways to get started teaching graphing concepts to your students, especially the young ones. Did you know that graphing concepts can be introduced even in preschool? Teachers can start introducing the idea of collecting “data”, or information, by asking simple questions or making observations about the world around us. Graphs and charts can be used in classrooms with very young children because they can “read” pictures. Click the image below to see more of this 1st grade digital resource that can be used to extend learning. It allows young children to “read” the flavors of ice cream.
“Reading”
Teaching Students Why Graphing is Important
Once we start introducing students to graphing concepts, we need to also introduce them to why graphing is important. I like to explain to my students that we can categorize information to make it easier for us to understand and share with others. After we collect data, or information, we can organize it into a tally chart, pictograph, or bar graph. I have found that students also like to ask additional questions about charts.
One question I often get from my class is “Why do we make charts like this?” I tell them that when we ask lots of people a question or observe people/things around us, it’s easier to graph/chart the information than to write each observation out in words. I also say that it’s easier for others to understand and read our information when it’s in a visually-appealing chart that’s also organized into just one page. Another bonus, that I also explain to them, is that when using charts and graphs, they can be used by people who speak other languages than ourselves. We can communicate in pictures without speaking the same language. Most students think is very cool 😎.
Teaching Graphing in the Classroom
One of my favorite ways to introduce students to graphing and collecting data is to gather students to the classroom carpet and ask a simple question. I also like to write this on the whiteboard. Then, create a tally chart on the board to represent the findings. You can also choose 3-4 categories ahead of time, and ask students to vote through a show of hands. 🍏 TIP: Make sure the question is age-appropriate and relatable. Above all, it will help kids be super excited to see the answers! Click the image below to see a resource that can be used with this activity. Here are some example questions:
Favorite fruit
- Favorite ice cream flavor
- Favorite sweet treat
- Favorite kind of pizza
- Favorite sport/What sports do you play?
- Favorite game
- Favorite drink
- Favorite school subject
- Favorite musical instrument
- Favorite season (This is great for automatically providing only 4 categories)
- Favorite color
- Siblings/No siblings/How many siblings
- Shirt color
- Shoe color
- Hair color
- How many missing teeth?
- How many books did you read over the summer or how many you plan to read?
- How many pages did you read this week?
- What season were you born in?
- How many people live in your house/household?
- How many letters are in your first name?
Collect Data
See? The data that you and your students can collect really is endless!
Teaching Graphing Basics
Teach children the basics of pictographs by showing them how to label them and use symbols/pictures to represent findings. You can introduce 1:1 correspondence to begin with. After this concept is understood, you can introduce them to 2:1 and so on. For example, one chocolate ice cream cone might represent 2 people enjoying that flavor. You can explain that 2:1 etc. makes it easier to represent findings when many people participate in your survey. Click the image below to see a fun resource that uses a pretend experience that students can relate to.
Relatable
Similarly, bar graphs are similar to teach. Above all, be sure to introduce each axis and how to label a bar graph properly (y and x axis, categories). You can also teach 1:1, 2:1, etc. with these graphs. With younger students, I like to use a different color for each bar to make it really clear that each category is different. Also, be sure to leave space between each bar to show that each category is separate (and not a continuum). Click the image below to see how fun bar graphs can be for your students.
Fun colors
Extending Learning: Gathering Graphing Data Outside the Classroom
After you have introduced the concepts to your students, you can have them walk around the classroom asking a specific question(s) to their peers. For instance, provide them with a pre-made, simple tally chart with clipboards and ask them to record their findings. So much fun!
You can also do this outside by having kids walk around with their clipboards. 🍏 TIP: I find cheap ones at the dollar stores. Another way to gather data outdoors on school grounds is to ask students to make some sort of observation and record their findings using a tally chart/tally marks. Here are some examples for outdoor data collection:
- What living things do you see outside? (e.g. bugs, birds, trees, flowers)
- How many short/medium/tall trees?
- How many windows on each side of the school?
- Different colored flowers.
Kids can also do simple data collection at home. They can ask family members and friends questions and record their responses. Many of the questions noted above can apply at home too. Get them to make a simple tally chart at home based on their findings, then when they come back to class, you can teach them how to put their data into a basic pictograph or bar graph.
Tally charts
I hope you find these strategies for teaching graphing helpful. Leave your questions below, and I’ll get back to you. In other words, I love to help fellow teachers. Looking for addition, subtraction, or fraction activities? Visit my store for more products!
Have a great week!
Jess