Types of Graphs Teaching Resources
Teach your students the different types of graphs with printable graphing activities, worksheets, games and more data activities created by teachers for teachers like you!
Designed to align with the Australian maths curriculum, the printables and digital activities in this collection can help you not just introduce each type of graph but also give your students practise using each one to represent and analyse data on a variety of graph types.
Whether it's your first year covering the various types of graphs in your math classes, or you're just looking for some handy tips and tricks, the Teach Starter teacher team has you covered. Read on for a primer that covers some of the main graph types plus a handy way to explain what a graph is to your students.
What Is a Graph? A Kid-Friendly Definition
Before you can start talking about the various graph types, it helps to explain what a graph is. That's where our definition could come in handy!
A graph is a visual way to show data. Graphs help make information easier to understand and analyze.
What Are the Different Types of Graphs?
There is a long list of different types of graphs that mathematicians use to represent numbers and other forms of data. So which graph types do your students need to know about right now?
Let's take a look at the more common graphing types we use in primary school maths classes:
1. Bar Graphs or Column Graphs
A bar graph or a column graph is a type of graph that uses rectangular shapes called bars or columns to represent quantities or values of data. Bars on a bar graph will be different heights or different lengths to represent the quantity or value.
This makes it easy to compare the values.
2. Line Graphs
A line graph uses points that are connected by lines to show the relationship between two sets of data.
Line graphs are helpful when we want to see changes in data sets over a period of time.
3. Pictographs
The picto in pictographs refers to pictures, which are used in this graph type to represent data.
4. Pie Charts
Did you know that a graph is a kind of chart? Although pie charts may not be called 'pie graphs,' these circles divided by lines to resemble slices of pie are most definitely a type of graph.
Pie charts can be used to represent parts of a whole or categories of a whole, and they help us understand the proportion or percentage of each category.
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Analysing Graphs — Scaled Bar Graphs, Pictographs, & Dot Plots —Task Cards
Use data analysis skills to analyse scaled bar graphs, pictographs, and dot plots with this set of task cards.
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Column Graphs Grade 5 Worksheet
Use this double-sided column graphs worksheet to check your students’ understanding of interpreting and drawing column graphs.
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Interpreting Line Graphs Worksheet Pack
Use this set of 4 Grade 5 worksheets to help students practise interpreting real-life data represented as a line graph.
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Creating a Graph Using Digital Technologies
A worksheet that supports students when collecting initial data and creating a digital graph.
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Creating a Bar Graph Worksheet
Interpret data and create a column graph display with this worksheet.
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Analysing Graphs – Single-Unit Bar Graphs and Pictographs – Task Cards
Use data analysis skills to analyse bar graphs and pictographs with this set of task cards.
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Data Collection Worksheet Set
Use this set of differentiated graphs worksheets to assess your students’ understanding of how data is collected, organised and presented.
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Types of Graphs Posters
This colourful and easy-to-digest visual display shows students the varying data displays they will encounter in their primary maths lessons.
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Column Graphs – Teaching Presentation
Learn all the features and how to construct a column graph with this 25-page teaching presentation.
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Interpreting Line Graphs Interactive Resource
Use this digital activity to teach students about interpreting real-life data represented as a line graph showing how measurements change over a period of time.
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Interpreting a Column Graph Worksheet
Interpret information from a column graph and answer questions with this worksheet.
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Graph It! Worksheet (Many-to-One Graphs)
Draw a scaled picture graph and bar graph to represent data with this worksheet.
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Creating Line Plots (With Whole Numbers, Fractions and Decimals) Worksheets
Help your students master data representation with this series of leveled worksheets for creating line plots.
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Creating Graphs Interactive Activity
Share this interactive activity with your students to help them practise using digital tools to create graphs from raw data.
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Line Plots / Dot Plots - Year 5 Assessment
Assess student understanding of reading and creating dot plots/line plots with a printable assessment for Year 5.
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Interpreting Line Graphs Interactive Activity Grade 5
Solve the space man's line graph questions and complete the challenge with this interpreting line graphs interactive game!
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Interpreting Line Graphs Grade 5 Worksheet Set
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Interpreting Line Graphs Task Cards Grade 5
Use these task cards in your maths class to have students independently analyse and interpret line graphs.
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Reading Pictographs - Worksheets
Use this double-sided worksheet to enable students to practise reading and interpreting pictographs.
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Pictograph, Bar Graph, and Dot Plot Match-Up (Scaled Intervals)
Use data analysis skills to match tally charts and frequency tables with their corresponding bar graph, pictograph, or dot plot.
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Interpreting Line Graphs Task Cards
Engage your Grade 5 learners with this task card set focused on interpreting line graphs.
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Picture Graphs Worksheet
Use this double-sided worksheet to help your students practise reading and evaluating a simple picture graph.
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Pictographs - Interactive Activity
Use this fun and engaging interactive activity to aid students. in practicing their pictograph interpretation skills.
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Differentiated Line Plot Worksheet
Guide your students to represent data with this differentiated line plot worksheet.
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Understanding Pictographs - Task Cards
Use this set of task cards to practise reading and interpreting pictographs and bar graphs
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Pictograph and Bar Graph Match-Up (Single-Unit Intervals)
Use data analysis skills to match frequency tables with a corresponding bar graph or pictograph.
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Create a Pictograph - Small Group Activity
Introduce the concept of a pictograph, and teach students how to create simple pictographs based on data from in a word problems.
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Analysing Line Plots Task Cards
Strengthen data analysis skills by interpreting line plots with this set of 24 task cards.
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Graphing (Pictographs) Task Cards
Get graphing! Use these levelled pictograph task cards to show students a variety of data collection records, and have them create pictographs to represent that data.
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Line Plot Bakery Interactive Activity
Assign this bakery-themed interactive activity to your students to build their understanding of analyisng and creating line plots.
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Line Plot Project: Bakery Menu Design
Make learning about maths as sweet as your students' favourite treats with this project based learning line plots exercise!
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Creating Line Plots Differentiated Cut and Paste Worksheet
Guide students to create line plots with this differentiated cut and paste worksheet.