← Years 5–6 Data & Information

Line charts

A chart that joins points with a line to show how a value changes over time. Time goes along the bottom axis, so you can see if the trend goes up or down.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Data, Information and Privacy — Module 33, VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 61, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 114, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Analysing and visualising data — Module 20, 9-10 Digital Technologies: Analysing and visualising data — Module 4, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 39, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 30

Understanding Line charts in Years 5–6 Data & Information

What it does: Days, months or years are placed along the bottom so the line shows how the value changes as time passes. Each line shows one group, so you can compare how both change over the same weeks. A legend tells you which line is which. The line connecting the points is what lets you see the trend, whether it goes up, goes down or stays flat.

Common mistakes: A line chart joins its points with a line, not bars. Bars belong to a column or bar chart. It should say: Points are joined by a line. A pie chart shows parts of a whole. It cannot show how rain changes month by month. To show change over time the type should be line.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 31–56) and word search (Modules 21–56).

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Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning
Duo
Which chart is best for showing how the temperature in your town changes each month?
Pie chartLine chart
Matches
Line chart showing favourite pets: dogs, cats, fish
↓
Favourite pets are separate categories, not time. A line chart needs time on the bottom axis. A column chart would suit this data better.
Applying
Meanings
Term
line chart
Meaning
A chart that joins points with a line to show how a value changes over time. Time goes along the bottom axis, so you can see if the trend goes up or down.
Practice
<svg width="200" height="120">
Testing
Gaps
chart = (days, temps)
Check Answer
Spots
3Y axis: Height (cm)
4Points are joined by bars

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Quick Questions

1. Which chart is best for showing how the temperature in your town changes each month?
A. Line chart ✓
B. Pie chart
A line chart joins points over time, so it shows how a value like temperature changes from month to month.
2. On a line chart that shows change over time, what usually goes along the horizontal (bottom) axis?
A. Time, like days, months or years ✓
B. The title of the chart
Time goes along the bottom axis. The value being measured goes up the side.
3. A line on a chart keeps climbing from left to right. What does this trend show?
A. The value is going down over time
B. The value is going up over time ✓
When the line rises as you move to the right, the value is increasing. A line that falls shows the value decreasing.
4. True or false: A line chart joins its points with a line.
A. True ✓
B. False
The line connecting the points is what lets you see the trend, whether it goes up, goes down or stays flat.
5. A line chart has two lines: one for Class 5A and one for Class 6B reading minutes each week. Why use multiple lines?
A. To make the chart look more colourful
B. To compare how two groups change over the same time ✓
Multiple lines let you compare groups on the same time axis. A legend tells you which line is which.

Match the Pairs

line chart → A chart that joins points with a line to show how a value changes over time
trend → The overall direction a line takes, such as going up, going down or staying flat
Time goes on the horizontal axis (along the bottom) of a line chart → x-axis: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
A line chart with multiple lines compares two groups over the same time → Lines: Class 5A and Class 6B by week
Line chart showing favourite pets: dogs, cats, fish → Favourite pets are separate categories, not time. A line chart needs time on the bottom axis. A column chart would suit this data better.
The line goes down from Jan to Mar, so sales went up. → A line going down means the value fell. The trend shows sales went down, not up.

Key Term

line chart
A chart that joins points with a line to show how a value changes over time. Time goes along the bottom axis, so you can see if the trend goes up or down.

Fill in the Blanks

1. chart = lineChart(days, temps)
Hint: Type the function name that draws a chart joining points to show how a value changes over time.
2. days = ["Mon", "Tue", "Wed"] temps = [18, 21, 24] lineChart(x=days, y=temps)
Hint: Type the variable that holds the time values for the horizontal axis.
3. if endValue > startValue: trend = "up"
Hint: Type the operator that checks whether the end value is bigger than the start value, so the trend goes up.
4. addLine(boysData) addLine(girlsData) showLegend()
Hint: Type the function name that draws another line on the same chart.
5. days = ["Mon", "Tue", "Wed"] lineChart(x=days, y=temps)
Hint: Type the name of the argument that sets the values going up the vertical axis.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Chart type: line
B X axis: Week
C Y axis: Height (cm)
D Points are joined by bars
Line D — A line chart joins its points with a line, not bars. Bars belong to a column or bar chart. It should say: Points are joined by a line.
Question 2
A Chart type: pie
B X axis: Month
C Y axis: Rain (mm)
Line A — A pie chart shows parts of a whole. It cannot show how rain changes month by month. To show change over time the type should be line.
Question 3
A Chart type: line
B Y axis: Temperature (C)
C X axis: Favourite colour
Line C — On a line chart the horizontal (x) axis shows time. Favourite colour is not time. It should be something like: X axis: Hour of the day.
Question 4
A Points fall from left to right
B The trend goes up
C The line slopes upwards
Line A — The other lines say the trend goes up and the line slopes upwards. So the points must rise from left to right, not fall.
Question 5
A Chart type: line
B Legend: Red=Class A, Red=B
C Red line: Class A scores
D Blue line: Class B scores
Line B — With more than one line, each line needs its own colour so the legend can tell them apart. Class B should be Blue, not Red.

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