Below is a picture of a handout we did in class the other day. In the pictograph on the top, a key is provided that shows each circle represents 6 m&m's. Each color is listed on the vertical access, and a row of circles is located on the horizontal access next to each color . Using the key, we represented how many of each color we had. For example, we had 33 green m&m's. So, we colored in 5 1/2 circles with green crayon (because 33/6 = 5.5).
In the bar graph on the bottom, each color is listed on the vertical access again. However, this time instead of a key, the horizontal access includes a scale with intervals of 6 (this made it easier to visually compare it to the pictograph above it). Additionally, instead of pictures, colored bars are drawn to show the amount of each color. Using green as the example again, you can see that the green bar extends to approximately where 33 is on the horizontal access (again, because there are 33 green m&m's total).
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| Work by me |
Now to circle graphs. As I mentioned in the beginning of this post, making a circle graph may not always be so easy. The main problem being, that it isn't always easy to properly divide the pieces of the pie so that they accurately represent the portion sizes. On one hand, if you have easy numbers to work with, quarters for example, it can be. On the other hand, when you don't, it can become quite cumbersome. This leads me to the purpose of today's post - I know, finally.
Using the bar graph on the above worksheet, my professor taught us a super easy way to convert the information to a circle graph. To begin, she provided us with two pieces of blank, white paper. On the first sheet, she had us trace our bars, cut them out, and color them to match the original bars. She then instructed us to tape them end-to-end, as pictured below.
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| Work by me |
Next, she had us tape the two ends together so that they formed a circle:
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| Work by me |
We then took this circle and placed it on top of the second blank piece of paper. We traced a circle using our taped bars as the template. We then marked on the circle where each color began and ended, and made sure to make a note of which color each section should be. I made an approximate center point in the circle to use as a guide for where my section lines should cross each other. Using the points marked for each color's section, We drew our lines to create the pieces of the pie. We were then told to color in and label each section accordingly. Everyone labeled their circle graph sections with the color, but there were different methods used for displaying the quantity of each color. Most appeared to enter the quantity, as you can see I did below, but one girl converted the quantities to percentages. (Note: while this was another great way to display the data, she had to take care in ensuring her percentages totaled 100 percent.) Last, we added a title to the circle graph so anyone would be able to tell what the graph was displaying.
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| Work by me |
While this exercise did take some time to complete, I did think it was a great way to show how a bar graph correlates to a circle graph. Additionally, not only would this be something that elementary students would be able to do, it was fun. Heck - we're college students and we had fun doing it.
Before signing off, I'd like to share another option for creating a graph if you would like to incorporate technology into your lesson. On the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) website, there is a Kids' Zone that has a variety of tools available. In particular to this post, there is a "Create a Graph" section that allows you to plug in your data to create any of five graphs: bar, line, area, pie, or XY (scatterplot for example). Not only are you able to design the graph, it also allows you to download or print it; great for submission.
-Amanda
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