Which Graph? with Excel

Getting Started

In this session students explore how the same data can be shown on a bar graph and a pie graph. They take a bar graph and rearrange it to make a strip graph and then turn it into a pie graph.  At the end of the session the students will have 3 graphs of the same data.

1. Using the instructions in Copymaster 1 students will be able to use Excel to produce a bar graph.  Print two copies of this bar graph. 
2. Ask the students to take one copy of the graph and cut up the bars. Using sellotape students stick the bars end to end to form a strip graph.
3. Discuss with the students the two graphs.  For example, questions that highlight that the same data is shown on both graphs.
4. Ask students to take the strip graph and put it on its edge to make a circle. By drawing a line from the circumference where the colour changes on the strip graph to the centre of the circle students will mark the sections of the pie graph. Students should then colour the sections of the pie chart to match the colours of the strip graph. 
5. Discuss with the students that the 3 graphs all show the same data.

Exploring

Choose a graph

Activity 1

Refer to the bar and pie graph that students constructed in the exploring session.
Ask the students questions and ask which graph they used to answer the question:
For example: How many children walk to school?
What percentage of children travel by car?
The school thinks about a third of the children come by bike, is this true?
How many more children come by bus than by car?

Discuss with the students why bar graphs are useful for showing the number of items and why pie graphs show proportions well.

Activity 2

Using Copymaster 2 students are to make a bar graph and a pie graph for favourite spreads.
Ask the students which type of graph they would use if they want to show:
15% of the children in the survey like jam.
Over a third of the children picked nutella.
10% more children like honey than like jam.
The most popular spread is nutella.
 

Lucky Dip

1. Organise the students into groups of 4. Cut out the lucky dip cards in Copymaster 3 and have the students take turns at selecting a card from a container.  Use all the cards. 
2. Students use the instructions in Copymaster 4 to construct a bar graph and a pie graph using Excel.
3. Students discuss and decide which graph is best for answering the following questions about the data.
   1. How many bouncy ball prizes are there?
   2. Which prize is about a third of all the prizes?
   3. Are there more bouncy balls or pencil prizes?
   4. What prize is 25% of all the prizes?
   5. How many more lollipop prizes are there than yoyo?
      Students are likely to have answered questions a, c and e using the bar graph, and questions b and d using the pie graph.
4. Ask students to use the questions and answers to write appropriate statements about the data under each of the graphs.

Writing and evaluating statements

1. Students complete a bar and a pie graph by choosing the topic and categories for the graphs. Copymaster 5 has Instructions for using Excel to construct the graphs.
2. Ask students to write statements under each graph. Remind students that the graph should clearly illustrate their statement.
3. Ask students to exchange their work with a buddy and check that the statement is true and is clearly shown by the graph.

Reflecting

In this final session students evaluate if statements are true about a graph and if the graph clearly illustrates the statement.

1. Using Copymaster 6 students construct a bar and a pie graph.
2. Ask them to complete the Statements Table on Copymaster 6.
3. After working by themselves students compare their answers with a classmate.