Matching Data to Graphs, Charts, and Tables
by Michelle Jean-Louis, michelle.lynch@cpsb.org

Content Area(s)
Math

Grade Level(s)
3, 

Overview
The students will create a bar graph, chart, or table to represent the data collected from other third graders at our school.

Software
documents

Technology

Objectives
TLW create a bar graph, chart, or table to represent their data.
TLW match data set to a graph, table, or chart and vice versa.

Procedures
Have students generate ideas for various surveys that they can perform to collect data from other third graders at their school (kinds of pets, favorite books, favorite fast foods, etc.). Divide the students into teams of three or four and ask them to choose a topic to survey. Direct the students to create a bar graph, chart, or table to represent their data. (Explain that their work must be neat and easy to read because other students will use these representations to answer questions about data sets that may or may not match the graph, chart, or table that is displayed.) Meet with each group to discuss their work and to determine the accuracy of what is shown in their graph/chart/table. They should be able to explain how their graph/chart/table represents the data that they collected. Use the graphs generated by the groups and display one each week along with four sets of data. Only one set will match what is represented in the graph, chart, or table. The other data choices will be distracters. Label each choice with a letter or number, and give students a chance during the week to write their choice on a piece of paper and place it in a box. At the end of the week, with the students in a math circle, read all of the responses and discuss both correct and incorrect answers. For additional practice using the same sets of data, display one team’s set of data along with four different graphs, charts, or tables. Repeat the procedure described above for students to choose an answer and then to discuss all of the choices at the end of the week.

Other Supporting Material
Math%20Rubric

Submitted on: 12/9/2004 9:00:51 PM