Graphs and Data Teaching Resources
Teach graphing this school year with printable worksheets, fun graphing activities and games, task cards and more teacher-created resources for primary school maths!
This collection of editable teacher-created resources is aligned with the Australian curriculum. It has been carefully reviewed by the expert teachers on the Teach Starter team to ensure every single digital or printable resource is ready to use in the classroom. That means you can save hours on lesson planning with activities ready to print or use digitally!
Are you looking to learn more about teaching students to use graphs, or just on the hunt for fresh ideas and activities to engage your students? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a look graphing on this level and some key vocabulary!
What Is Graphing? A Kid-Friendly Definition
Graphing starts in the early years in many schools around Australia with simple pictographs. But how do you explain what graphing is to the youngest students? This kid-friendly definition may help.
Graphing is a way to show information using pictures and symbols. It's sort of like drawing a picture that helps you understand numbers and facts.
For example, we could use graphs to show how many kids in our class like different colours or how many toys in the toy bin are cars.
Graphing Vocabulary for Primary Teachers
Looking for a guide to some of the graphing vocabulary your students will encounter — and you will have to define? Here's a comprehensive look, along with some simple definitions!
- Data —Information that is collected and analysed
- Axis — The horizontal and vertical lines that make up a graph.
- X-axis — The horizontal axis on a graph
- Y-axis — The vertical axis on a graph
- Bar — A rectangular shape we use to represent data on a bar graph
- Scale — The units used to measure data on a graph
- Pictogram/pictograph — A graph that uses pictures to represent data
- Legend/key — A chart that explains the symbols used on a graph (students may recognise this from their map skills lessons)
- Line of best fit — A straight line on a graph that represents the overall trend in a set of data
- Line plot — A graph that shows the frequency of data values on a number line
- Tally — A mark used to represent data on a tally chart
- Pie chart — A graph that shows the proportion of each data value to the whole, represented as a circle that looks like a pie
- Line graph — A graph that shows the relationship between two variables using a line
- Data point — An individual value on a graph
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Creating Pictographs Worksheet
Use this engaging worksheet to practice creating and reading pictographs.
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Count and Graph – At the Beach
A beach-themed hands-on activity to introduce graphing skills.
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Number Talks - Data Analysis Task Cards
Build data analysis skills with this set of 26 task cards.
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Chance and Data Maths Investigation - Roll Me a Six!
A mathematics investigation involving chance and data, embedded in a real-world context.
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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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Dot Plot Worksheet
Practise analysing and creating single-unit dot plots with this free maths 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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Interpreting a Column Graph Worksheet
Interpret information from a column graph and answer questions with this worksheet.
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Data Vocabulary Poster
A poster that explains the concept of data and lists associated vocabulary.
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Data Representation and Interpretation Worksheets - Year 4
4 data representation and interpretation worksheets linked to the Australian Curriculum.
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Column / Bar Graph Poster
Hang this column / bar graph poster in your classroom to teach your students about the different parts of this commonly used graph.
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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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Graph It! Worksheet (Single-Unit Intervals)
Draw a single-unit picture graph and bar graph to represent data with this worksheet.
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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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Count and Graph – Fruity Treats
A fruit-themed hands-on activity to introduce graphing skills.
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Interpreting Data Year 6 Escape Room
Play our interpreting data year 6 escape room to give your students engaging practise identifying and correcting misleading data displays.
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Misleading Graphs Worksheet Set
Download our misleading graphs worksheet set to increase your students’ abilities in statistical literacy and data analysis.
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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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Mean Median Mode Worksheet
Use this double-sided worksheet to check students’ ability to find the mean, median and mode of given data sets.
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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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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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Analysing Graphs (Single-Unit Intervals) Board Game
Sharpen data analysis skills when solving problems with information presented in a single-unit picture or column graph with this board game.
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Count and Graph – Under the Sea
A sea-themed hands-on activity to introduce graphing skills.
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Data Maths Investigation – Line Up the Coins
A mathematics investigation about data, embedded in a real-world context.
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Data Maths Investigation - Which Reward?
A mathematics investigation involving data collection and representation, embedded in a real-world context.
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Data Match-Up Cards (Set 1)
A match-up activity for students to use when exploring data.
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Baking Dot Plot Analysis Teaching Slides
Explore the sweet side of graphs and data with this bakery-themed dot plot resource, supporting your students' abilities to interpret dot plots!
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Dot Plot Bakery Interactive Activity
Strengthen dot plot skills with this bakery-themed interactive activity, designed to help students practise creating and analysing dot graphs in a fun, structured way.
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Spin, Tally, Graph and Interpret Data Task Card Activity
Guide your students to collect data, make tally marks, create a column graph and analyse data with this maths activity.
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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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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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Reading Pictographs - Worksheets
Use this double-sided worksheet to enable students to practise reading and interpreting pictographs.