Where were you born...A graphing lesson

Students will gather data and graph the results. Lake Norman Elementary's student population has a wide range of native states. Many of the students were born in states other than North Carolina. This activity allows the students to survey each class to see what states are represented in our school. After the survey results have been tallied, students will use the data to create different types of graphs. The class will then compare the graphs and will decide which type of graph represents the information most clearly.

A lesson plan for grades 3–4 Mathematics

By Erin Bradfeldt, Joan Milliken, and Kathy Beck

About the authors

Erin Bradfeldt and Amy Luna are both fourth grade teachers at Lake Norman Elementary in Mooresville, NC.
Joan Milliken is the Media Specialist at Lake Norman, and Kathy Beck is the Technology Specialist.

Learn more

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Related topics

• Learn more about mathematics.

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Learning outcomes

Students will gather data and create graphs that show the relationship between students and their native states. Students will also compare the data in relationship to the grade level.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

3 days

Materials/resources

• paper
• pencils
• students in other classrooms (to gather data)

Technology resources

• Computer for each student or team/group
• Excel Program (Microsoft Corporation)/or Spreadsheet Program
• Overhead/Transparencies

Pre-activities

Pre-Activity…Students need to have a background in statistics and gathering data. You may need to teach one or two lessons on this subject before conducting the survey.

• Divide students into groups of 3.
• Have each group go into a different classroom to conduct a survey.
• Each group will ask the students in the classroom what state they were born in.
• Each group will tally and record the results by state and grade level (See Attachment).
• Each group will use the overhead projector to present their individual results. Other students will copy down this information.
• Have the class create a master copy of the entire school’s results and each grade level’s results.

Activities

1. Students will go to the computer lab to enter their data that was collected (Information is entered into a spreadsheet on the Excel Program or Spreadsheet Program).
2. Students will remain in the same groups of three. Each group will be assigned a specific state and type of graph that they will create to represent their group’s data. (pie, bar, line)
3. Each graph will show the percentage of people from their assigned state in comparison to the percentage of people from North Carolina.
4. Each group will print out the graph that they created.
5. Each group will present completed graphs to the class. They will also discuss the way that each graph represents the data.
6. Discuss and compare why one graph may be easier to read than a different type. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each type of graph.
7. Students will decide which graph has the best and most clear representation of the results.
8. Students will make a bulletin board to display all of their data and graphs (Option: put the bulletin board up near the school office or anywhere that it will be visible to other students and staff members).
9. Use the attachment of the United States map. As a class, look at each state and write in the number of students represented from that state.
10. Discuss the representation from each region of the U.S.
11. Discuss as a group why people may choose to move from different states/regions to North Carolina.

Assessment

• A completed graph needs to be turned in showing that the student entered the correct information into the spreadsheet.
• Each student contributes at least 1 idea as to why people may have moved from their state to North Carolina.
• Each student gives his/her opinion on which graph is easiest to read with this type of data.

Supplemental information

Attachments:

• Datasheet
• State Tally (excel)
• USA Map
• State Tally (rtf)
• Spreadsheet

Related websites

N/A

Comments

As I mentioned before, Lake Norman has a high percentage of students not from North Carolina (Nearly 50%). The other authors of this lesson and I have always been curious as to what states are represented at our school. Obviously this lesson could be adapted to show the results of different types of surveys. The level of students that you have will determine how much you allow the students to do on their own. As I mentioned in my reflections, you may need to set up the spread sheet for the students in advance. I hope you enjoy our lesson!