Overview

Students make a histogram using data from a class test.

Objective

Students will be able to create and interpret a histogram.

Standards Addressed

Mathematics — Data Analysis

Grade 6

Data Collection, Benchmark A

01. Read, construct and interpret line graphs, circle graphs and histograms.

Statistical Methods, Benchmark B

05. Describe the frequency distribution of a set of data, as shown in a histogram or frequency table, by general appearance or shape; e.g., number of modes, middle of data, level of symmetry, outliers.

Data Collection, Benchmark E

02. Select, create and use graphical representations that are appropriate for the type of data collected.

 

Grade 7

Data Collection, Benchmark E

02. Analyze how decisions about graphing affect the graphical representation; e.g., scale, size of classes in a histogram, number of categories in a circle graph.

Data Collection, Benchmark G

02. Analyze how decisions about graphing affect the graphical representation; e.g., scale, size of classes in a histogram, number of categories in a circle graph.

 

Materials

• Graph paper

• Protractor

• Compass

Procedure

1. Review different types of graphs: line plot, circle or pie graphs, bar graphs and histograms.

2. Remind the students that a histogram shows an interval of values while a bar graph shows a single value or item.

3. Have the scores of a test that was given to the class written on the board for the students to copy or have them written horizontally on a handout to distribute to the class.

4. Tell the students that they are to organize this data using a circle graph and a histogram. Do not tell them what the intervals for the data should be. (Most students will use tens, e.g., 100-90, 89-80, etc. Some will use fives.)

5. Remind the students to label the histogram’s axes, create a title and label the parts of the pie chart or make a legend.

6. After these charts have been created, put some on the board or use an overhead to show the graphs. Compare the graphs that have different intervals and ask the class to determine which is easiest to read, which represents the data in the clearest manner, etc.

7. If the students need more practice, histograms can be created using student heights, time it takes to get to school, hours spent playing video games or watching television.

Evaluation

Histogram
X-axis is titled.	5 points
Y-axis is titled.	5 points
Intervals are consistent.	5 points
Graph is titled.	5 points
Graph is accurate.	10 points
Graph is neat (easily readable).	5 points
Circle (or Pie) Graph
Sections of the graph are accurate.	10 points
Labels (or a legend) are visible.	10 points
Graph is titled.	5 points
Graph is neat (easily readable).	5 points