Graph Reading Lesson Plan
Concept: Reading Graphs
Objectives: Students will be able to identify three main types of graphs (pictograph, bar
graph, line graph) when given an example.
Students will be able to identify the different parts that make up a graph
(title, horizontal axis, vertical axis, units).
Arizona Standard: Strand 2, Concept 1
PO 3 Interpret data found in line plots, pictographs, and single-bar graphs
(horizontal and vertical).
PO 4 Answer questions based on data found in line plots, pictographs, and singlebar graphs (horizontal and vertical).
PO 5 Formulate questions based on graphs, charts, and tables to solve problems.
Materials:
Poster with line graph of average monthly high temperatures
Poster with bar graph of average monthly high temperatures
Poster with pictograph of average monthly high temperatures
Worksheet entitled Graph Reading Activity (3 pages)
Whole Group Instructions:
Start off by asking the class “What is a graph?” (Use the popsicle sticks to call on students.)
Try to use the students’ answers to get out the information about what graphs are used for
(displaying information) and what some of the types of graphs there are (line graph, bar
graph, and pictograph).
Ask the students what it means to read a graph. Try to get out that you are reading when you
get information from the graph.
Show students on of the prepared graphs.
Ask the students:
What kind of graph is this?
What is the title of the graph?
What is the information in the graph?
What do the numbers of the vertical axis represent?
What is represented on the horizontal axis?
What is the average high temperature in October?
FYI:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
65
69
74
83
92
102
104
102
97
86
73
65
Do the same thing with both of the other graphs.
Tell the students that they will now work with their interns to read other graphs.
Small Group Instructions:
Have the students work through the questions on the worksheets. Make sure that the students
are writing their own questions about the information in the graphs.
Whole Group Wrap Up:
Ask the students what they learned about today. Make sure to get answers that include the
parts of a graph and types of graphs.
Use the class to create a horizontal bar graph of the month of birthdays for the class. Make
sure to include the title of the graph, the labels of the axes, and the units on the axes.
Quiz Questions for Beginning of Next Class:
1.
What are graphs used for? _________________________
2.
Name three types of graphs. ______________________________________________________
3.
Refer to the graph below to answer the questions.
a.
What is the title of the graph?
b.
What information is on the vertical axis?
c.
What is the average high temperature in Phoenix in November?
d.
Which month has an average high temperature of 83 degree F?