Graphs Galore

This week we have spent a lot of time working with graphs. This goes along with the Common Core Standards for First Grade math in many ways. Students are expected to be able to " Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another."

Having spent a little time on graphs in Kindergarten, I feel confident that the students can organize their data and create a graph. What we have been working on this week is learning how to interpret the data that they have collected. We have spent a lot of time looking at graphs and sharing the information that we see.

 One kind of graph we looked at was our "Munchie Math" skittles graph. The students were asked to organize their bag of skittles into a graph and then figure out which color they had the most of and which color they had the least of.

Another graph we have been working on is our weather graph. Each day a student has the job of  "Weather Reporter". During our calendar time each day, this person checks the weather and reports back to our class. We have been keeping up with this data on our September weather graph. Each day the students tell me what they see from the data that they have on their graph. They may tell me which weather we have had the most, the least, or how many more sunny days than rainy days we have had.

On Fridays, we complete our graph of the week. This graph usually goes along with whatever topic we have been studying during the week. This week we have learned about Johnny Appleseed so the students made a graph of their favorite apple product. Each student has a chance to come up and choose which item they like the best and also give an explanation. For example, last week's question was "Which season do you like best? Summer or Fall?". Each student practiced stating an opinion by telling which season they liked the best and giving a reason as to why. This is a simple way to integrate math, social studies, science, and speaking and listening into our day in a quick graph!

We have also been making our own graphs by spinning spinners and surveying the class. Some days the children will spin the spinner 10 times and record and graph their data. Other days, the students will survey the class and record and graph their data. The students collect their data by making tally marks. When they are finished collecting, they color in the graph. On the back, the students write 2 sentences that describe what their findings were. These activities encourage collaboration and communication in addition to practicing several different math concepts!

As we move on in the year, I will let the children ask the questions about graphs to the class instead of me always asking! I will also encourage the students to write 4 interpretations instead of 2.  Over the course of the year, I want them to be able to write more detailed sentences about their graphs and be able to compare the data using all of the words in their word banks.