Choosing the right chart

Name:

Date:

Class:

Quick Questions

Shade in the A or B circle for each question.

1. Which chart is best for comparing how many students chose each favourite sport?

A Line chart

B Bar chart

2. Which chart is best for showing how the temperature changed each hour during the school day?

A Line chart

B Pie chart

3. Which chart is best for showing what share of the class lunch orders were sandwiches, wraps or salads?

A Pie chart

B Line chart

4. True or false: You should pick a chart type by looking at the question your data answers.

A False

B True

5. Mia recorded her reading minutes every day for 4 weeks. She wants to see if her reading is going up or down. Which chart should she use?

A Line chart

B Bar chart comparing unrelated categories

Match the Pairs

Draw a line connecting each item on the left to its match on the right.

Left column		Right column
1Bar chart		ABest for showing change over time, like the temperature each day of the week
2Line chart		BLine chart
3The question is: what fraction of the class chose each lunch option? (parts of a whole)		CBest for comparing categories, like how many students chose each favourite pet
4The question is: how did our class reading minutes change each week this term? (change over time)		DPie chart
5Use a pie chart to show the temperature each month of the year		ESports are separate categories, so a bar chart should be used. A line chart suggests a change over time.
6Use a line chart to compare the number of votes for 5 different sports		FTemperature over months is change over time, so a line chart should be used. A pie chart shows parts of a whole.

Definitions

Choosing the right chart

Fill in the Blanks

Complete each line of code by filling in the missing parts.

Compare favourite pets: use a ___ chart

Temperature each day: use a ____ chart

Share of class for each fruit: ___ chart

if question == "change over time": chart = "____"

A pie chart shows parts of a _____

Spot the Error

Shade in the letter of the line that contains an error.

Question 1

A ask = "Favourite pet in Year 5?"

B chart = "line"

C show(chart)

Question 2

A ask = "How did rain change?"

B data = "mm of rain per month"

C x_axis = "month"

D chart = "pie"

Question 3

A ask = "Share of lunch types?"

B data = "% per lunch type"

C chart = "line"

Question 4

A ask = "Which team won most?"

B data = "points for each team"

C chart = "line"

Question 5

A ask = "Temperature each day?"

B data = "degrees for each day"

C chart = "pie"

Answer Key

Choosing the right chart

Section A: Quick Questions

B — Bar chart

A — Line chart

A — Pie chart

B — True

A — Line chart

Section B: Match the Pairs

Bar chart → Best for comparing categories, like how many students chose each favourite pet

Line chart → Best for showing change over time, like the temperature each day of the week

The question is: what fraction of the class chose each lunch option? (parts of a whole) → Pie chart

The question is: how did our class reading minutes change each week this term? (change over time) → Line chart

Use a pie chart to show the temperature each month of the year → Temperature over months is change over time, so a line chart should be used. A pie chart shows parts of a whole.

Use a line chart to compare the number of votes for 5 different sports → Sports are separate categories, so a bar chart should be used. A line chart suggests a change over time.

Section C: Definitions

Choosing the right chart — Pick the chart that matches your question: a bar chart to compare categories, a line chart for change over time, and a pie chart for parts of a whole.

Section D: Fill in the Blanks

Compare favourite pets: use a bar chart

Temperature each day: use a line chart

Share of class for each fruit: pie chart

if question == "change over time":
    chart = "line"

A pie chart shows parts of a whole

Section E: Spot the Error

B — The question compares categories (types of pet), so a bar chart is the best choice. A line chart is for change over time. It should be chart = "bar".

D — The question is about change over time (month by month), so a line chart is best. A pie chart shows parts of a whole. It should be chart = "line".

C — The question asks about parts of a whole (each lunch type's share), so a pie chart is best. A line chart is for change over time. It should be chart = "pie".

C — Comparing the points of different teams is comparing categories, so a bar chart is best. The line chart does not fit this question. It should be chart = "bar".

C — Temperature across days is change over time, so a line chart is best. A pie chart cannot show change over time. It should be chart = "line".