Graph IT: Math Ideas

By | June 19, 2012

Any time is graph time. Creating a graph center at school or at home on the refrigerator is a simple way keep kids thinking.

Use a variety of graphs:

1. bar graphs (vertical and horizontal)

2. pie charts

3. picto graphs

4. line graphs

5. area graphs

Use them around the year graphing everything from favorite foods to saved allowance. Kids enjoy asking friends and family their  ‘favorite things’ so why not graph them as well? Consider favorite ice cream, number, holiday, place to go on vacation or video game. Don’t forget favorite season, TV program, summer activity and summer book.

If the children you are working with are new to graphing, help them limit the choices they allow to keep the graph easier to handle.  More experienced charters can get as complicated as they can handle. Students can save their charting in a notebook to share and can repeat previous graphing questions and learn if people’s ideas and likes change.

Check online for other ideas, including a stop at nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph. Enjoy!