How to Use Charts in a 5th Grade Math Problem

Doing math with a chart

In fifth grade, children have already learned basic math operations and are comfortable with fractions, decimals and percentages. They are ready at this stage to analyze data and create visual displays using different types of charts. The most commonly used charts are line graphs, bar charts and pie charts. You can represent the same set of data using different charts. Typically, however, line graphs are used to represent change and bar charts are used to represent comparisons.

Things You'll Need

• Graph paper
• Ruler
• Compass
• Protractor
• Markers or color pencils, optional

Instructions

Line Graphs

1. 

   Line graph

   Draw and label axes and mark intervals along the axes. For example, to show the change in a company's profits over a twelve-month period, label the horizontal or x-axis "Months" and, at even intervals on the axis, draw ticks and label each tick 1, 2, 3 and so on until 12. Label the vertical or y-axis "Profits" and draw tick marks at even intervals to show different profit levels. If profits range from $5 million to $12 million, for instance, you may place tick marks to represent 0, $5 million, $10 million and $15 million.

2. Locate points on the graph that represent the data points and draw small filled circles to mark the points. For instance, if the profit for month three is $7 million, first move along the horizontal axis until you get to 3 and then move upward, parallel to the vertical axis, until you locate the line a little above the $5 million mark that represents $7 million. Draw a dot at that point.

3. Join the dots on the graph using a ruler. Your line graph is complete.

Bar Charts

1. 

   Bar chart

   Draw, label and mark off intervals on the axes in the same way as you did for the line graph.

2. Draw a bar to represent each data point by first locating its horizontal position and then its height along the vertical axis. Using the previous example, to show a profit of $7 million at month three, locate the tick that marks month three and draw a bar that extends up to the $7 million line along the vertical axis. The base of the bar will extend a short way on both sides of the month three tick mark. Make sure all bars have the same thickness.

3. Shade or color the bars.

1. 

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to explore different software tools that can be used to create various types of charts. Word processors such as Microsoft Word and Apple's Pages let users create charts in their documents. There are chart-creation websites online, such as "Create a Graph" from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

References

• Roehampton University; Diagrams and Charts; Louise Thorpe; 2000

Resources

• NCES Kids' Zone: Create a Graph