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Graphs and Charts

Keeping track of the weather!
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Click here to create your own weather-tracking graph or chart!
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It can be helpful to have records that tell you what the weather has been like recently. Many different types of scientists (including meteorologists, who study weather patterns), keep detailed charts that track the weather. They use these charts to help make sense of other events in the natural world, like animals migrating, new types of bacteria evolving, and even the frequency of natural disasters. Keeping track of something helps you to notice patterns, and be better prepared for what might come next. 

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With this activity, you will learn how to make a graph of the weather online. You can track types of weather with pie charts and bar graphs, or you can track the temperature with a line graph. It allows you to have all the weather of the past week, month, multiple months, or even the whole school year if you would like! All in one place, and easy to read!

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This is a small groups activity.​

Notes for instruction:

In order to create a graph or chart, you will need a compiled set of data. Hand-drawn weather graphs or temperature charts, or a calendar on which the day's weather has been recorded, will work well for converting to a computer-generated graph. Feel free to use whatever kind of data your class collects already. We recommend a low student:teacher ratio for this activity, with direct facilitation/supervision. Based on the dynamics of your students, it may work well to have one designated data-input person, one person to read the previously recorded data, or any combination of these roles between multiple students.

Propose higher-order thinking questions prior to beginning the activity. Then choose your desired graph style, and proceed through the tabs on the right, from top to bottom. Graphs can be printed upon completion.

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Higher-order thinking questions, with hypothetical student responses below: Student answers will vary depending on data type, graph choice, etc.

  1. How many weeks/months of information should we include in our graph? Why would that be the best amount?

    1. One month, so we know how things changed every month.​

    2. The whole school year! Because it would be cool to see how many times we've had to have recess inside.

  2. What should the title of our graph be? We need a title that tells us everything we need to know about this graph. Time-frame and type of data should be included.

    1. Sunny Days in January.​

    2. Temperatures of Fall 2017.

  3. What kind of graph or chart should we choose, and why? 

    1. A line graph so we can look at how the temperature goes up and down each day.​

    2. A pie chart, because that makes it easy to see if the month has been mostly rainy or mostly sunny.

  4. If graphing weather types: What kinds of weather should we include, given the month/season that we are looking at?

    1. We should not have snow on the graph because it is September and it is too warm for snow.​

    2. We should have one type that says "sunny AND cloudy" because sometimes it is both.

  5. If charting temperature: What should our range be? That means, how high and how low should our graph go to? Is there a limit; are there temperatures too high or too low?

    1. It is winter so we should have all the low numbers but not the high numbers.​

    2. It should go up to 100 because last summer one day it was 100 degrees. But it should not have 0 because that is too cold.

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