Create-A-Graph.....Technology and data!

Have you ever used Create A Graph?  It is an awesome, free, internet program that I discovered a few years ago.  You just input the information you want, and it makes these really neat, professional looking graphs!

There really are so many possibilities with this computer site, but I wanted to share with you how I used it.

During our unit on economics and businesses, the students were required to create their own business for our Economics Marketplace.  As part of the research for that business, I asked the students to go to other classrooms asking the students in those rooms what price they would pay for certain items the business person was selling (market research!)

The business people took a survey, tallying the results.  To help them gain a better idea of how they should price their items, I had the students create a bar graph and pie graph of the information gathered.  The created the graphs using the "Create-A-Graph" program.

It was really easy to use, but since I wanted the kids to be autonomous with this project (ie: I wanted to be able to work with small groups while they were on the computer) I wrote up some directions for them to follow.  It is a step-by-step page and, I have to tell you, not a single child couldn't do this.  They got so into it and LOVED the results.  The graphs were so amazing (and really helped them to see the price points for their items).

Since some of you may be heading into your data and statistics units, here are the directions I wrote for the Bar Graph and the Pie Graph.  When I introduced them to the students, I went over each step once whole class and that was it. The kids ran with it.  

Sorry, I did not create one for the line graph or other graphs listed there, simply because I wasn't using those for my lesson.  One day soon, I will...and you guys will be the first to know :)