Recording data with diagrams and graphs · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Picking the right graph

Science · Scientific Inquiry · ages 9-11
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Maya counts the birds that visit her garden feeder every day for a week. She wants to keep a neat record of each day's count before she makes any graphs. What is the best way to record her results first?

    • In a table with a row for each day
    • In a story written in sentences
    • In a drawing of one bird
    • In a single number with no labels

  2. Priya counts her class's pets: 5 dogs, 3 cats, 2 fish. Which graph should she use?

    Dogs5Cats3Fish2
    • Bar chart
    • Line graph
    • Scatter graph

  3. A classification key sorts living things using a series of yes or no questions.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. A gardener measures a sunflower's height every week for two months. Which graph fits this data best?

    • Bar chart
    • Line graph
    • Scatter graph

  5. Look at the bar chart of minibeasts found under logs. How many woodlice were found?

    Beetles4Snails7Woodlice3

    Answer: ______________

  6. Ben draws a line graph of how far his toy car rolled each second, but he forgets to write any labels or numbers on the axes. His friend cannot tell what the graph shows. What must Ben add to fix it?

    • A label and a number scale on each axis
    • A brighter color for the line
    • A title about his favorite food
    • More decorations around the edge

  7. Tom records how many ladybirds he spots each day: 3, 5, 2, 5, 4. He makes a frequency table that counts how many days each number appears. On how many days did Tom spot exactly 5 ladybirds?

    Answer: ______________

  8. A reader looks at a graph but cannot tell what the numbers mean. What is missing?

    • A title only
    • Labelled axes
    • The color of the bars

  9. Omar draws a bar chart but leaves out the numbers on the side scale. What is wrong with his graph?

    • Nothing, it's fine
    • The scale is missing, so no one can read the values
    • The bars should touch

  10. Layla records her class's favourite colour (red, blue, green) and draws a line graph joining the totals with a line. What went wrong?

    • Colours are categories, not continuous change, so a bar chart fits better
    • Line graphs can never be used
    • She should have used a scatter graph instead
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_rDjtmDogJr-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Picking the right graph W1-mt_rDjtmDogJr-s1

  1. In a table with a row for each day · A table keeps each day's count tidy and easy to find, so the data is ready to turn into a graph later.
  2. Bar chart · Dogs, cats, and fish are separate categories, not a continuous change, so a bar chart fits best.
  3. True · Each question narrows the group down until you reach the answer.
  4. Line graph · Height changing week by week is continuous data, so a line graph shows the trend clearly.
  5. 3 · Read across to the Woodlice bar and check where it lines up with the scale: 3.
  6. A label and a number scale on each axis · Every graph needs a label on each axis saying what is measured, plus a number scale so the points can be read.
  7. 2 · The number 5 appears twice in Tom's list, so his frequency table shows 2 days with exactly 5 ladybirds.
  8. Labelled axes · Labelled axes tell the reader what is being measured and in what units.
  9. The scale is missing, so no one can read the values · Without a scale, the bar heights cannot be turned into actual numbers.
  10. Colours are categories, not continuous change, so a bar chart fits better · Joining unrelated categories with a line suggests a trend between them that does not exist.
Worksheet · LightMySky