A sorting activity where pupils decide which graph suits each data set, for Year 6 maths. After short definitions of three graph types, pupils sort twelve data sets, from shares of a £60 budget to temperature over a week to shoe sizes in class. They then justify their hardest choice and invent a new data set for each category. Model answers included. Matched to the England National Curriculum statistics objective.
Statistics
“Interpret and construct pie charts and line graphs and use these to solve problems”
Choosing the right chart for the data is the judgement behind constructing one.
Plain definitions of the three graph types before any sorting.
Twelve data sets to place, including shoe sizes in class and a week of temperatures.
Pupils explain their hardest placement and write one new data set per category.
Model answers with acceptable alternatives.
Main activity
Sorting and justifying carries a discussion-heavy statistics lesson.
Paired work
Disagreements over the tricky data sets make useful maths talk.
Assessment check
The invented data sets show whether pupils grasp what each graph is for.
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