This guide provides students with practice for all the major types of graphs they are likely to encounter. It includes information on graphs of various families of algebraic functions; bar, line, and circle graphs; the creation, reading, and interpretation of graphs; and the use of graphing calculators. (MVL)

Describes research using a pedagogic strategy developed during an exploratory work called Active Graphing in which access to spreadsheets allows graphs to be used as analytic tools within practical experiments. Identifies aspects of student interaction with the experiment itself, the data collected and the graphs, and traces the emergence of…

Many students have difficulties in interpreting position versus time graphs. Presents an activity involving calculator-based motion labs that allows students to bring these graphs to life by turning their own motion into a graph that can be analyzed, investigated, and interpreted in terms of how they actually moved. (ASK)

Presents different real-world mathematics activities on data display and data analysis with pie charts from different time periods. (ASK)

Describes a five-number summary which is a display of the minimum value, lower quartile, median, upper quartile, and maximum value. Indicates how to draw box plots as graphical representations of a five-number summary. (YP)

Presents an activity considering whether a difference exists in the age of Oscar winners. Describes how to draw a stem plot and a box plot as an example of implementing the recommendations of the NCTM Standards. Provides tables showing the name, movie titles, and ages of the Oscar winners since 1928. (YP)

In this activity, students design and create a LEGO (plastic building blocks) structure to house and protect a temperature sensor. The structure is left in a safe spot and the temperature is regularly checked and charted. This activity uses a time frame of 45 minutes. (Author/SOE)

Describes classroom activities and shows that statistics is a practical tool for solving real problems. Presents a histogram, a stem plot, and a box plot to compare data involving class enrollments. (YP)

Discusses a graphical analysis method used in the physics laboratory. Shown are various kinds of graphs to illustrate the relationship between two variables. A procedure for deriving equations from laboratory data is described. (YP)

Presents activities using the theme of collecting and interpreting data from the students' own classroom. Stresses communication among students and between students and the teacher. Includes reproducible student worksheets. (MKR)

Reports a study to examine the role of context on the ability to interpret graphs. Graph tests involving 2 ecological contexts were presented to 14- and 15-year-old students (n=23) in the form of an interview. Results indicated how students used their contextual knowledge in interpreting the graphs. (MDH)

This book provides elementary and middle school teachers with practical ideas on the use and teaching of graphs. Five sections consist of: (1) "Graphs--What Are They and How Are They Used?"; (2) "Levels of Graph Comprehension"; (3) "Collecting, Organizing, and Analyzing Data"; (4) "Constructing, Interpreting, and Writing about Graphs"; and (5)…

A graph is an example of a symbol system which encodes information through the juxtaposition of marks in a two dimensional plane; decoding the meaning of a graph uses specific attributes of the human visual system. This study was undertaken to identify some variables critical to graph interpretation as a first step in designing better curriculum…

Many of today's popular sports are based around the use of a ball yet none are alike. In fact, they are all designed with specific characteristics in mind. In this activity, students investigate different balls' ability to bounce and represent the data they collect graphically. This activity uses a time frame of 100 minutes. (Author/SOE)

Maintains that preparing graphs is an essential part of data analysis and representation. Asserts that, although psychologists use graphs extensively, most textbooks provide limited techniques for designing graphs. Reviews research on graphical techniques and includes recommended articles on the topic. (CFR)