Plotting Line Graphs Worksheets
At the third-grade level we start having students create their own line graphs. It all begins with making sure that students know how to setup a coordinate plane with the proper range. Honestly, I focus on this simple skill for an entire 30-minute lesson. It pays off huge dividends. Once they mastered the range and setting the stage, we work on the concept of locating the position of ordered pairs. I then work them through deciphering an ordered pair (x, y). I have them track the x position left-right and then move on to the up and down (y position). This is a habitual skill, if you have them graph a whole bunch of fun data, it becomes second nature very quickly. Students will learn how to plot data points to create line graphs with these worksheets and lessons.
Aligned Standard: 3.MD.B.3
- Eating Apples Step-by-Step Lesson- Plot all the data that we provide you with about eating apples over several days, really a month.
- Guided Lesson - The data charts come at you from all directions. Make us a few line graphs please.
- Guided Lesson Explanation - My three step explanations seem to work well. Any ideas for improvement? Let me know.
- Reading and Making Line Graphs Five Pack of Worksheets - I tried to make a few very busy graphs in this pack to make the work more challenging.
- Practice Worksheet - Around question six, I started to run out of ideas. Sorry for the lack of creativity on those last problems.
- Matching Worksheet - Match the line graphs to the data charts that they represent.
- Answer Keys - These are for all the unlocked materials above.
Homework Sheets
We give you two data tables to plot away. Graph paper helps.
- Homework 1 - We weren't given any background on the data set. It appears that the data chart displays the number of mangoes eaten over a series of days.
- Homework 2 - You will be given two related variables to analyze with a line graph. Remind yourself the basics: Independent Variable = Number of Weekends (x-axis). Dependent Variable = Number of Parties (y-axis).
- Homework 3 - Determine the range for each set of data before you start putting these things together.
Practice Worksheets
See how these work for you. You may want to read the plotting directions a few times through first.
- Practice 1 - Make a line graph for the data set below. Label both the x (horizontal) and y (vertical) axis properly. Give the graph a title.
- Practice 2 - Determine the purpose of the numbers you are working with before you attempt to establish a relationship between them.
- Practice 3 - Determine the data that should appear on the horizontal and vertical axis.
Math Skill Quizzes
I do sometimes use the abbreviations (No.) for number of the quizzes.
- Quiz 1 - For each of these problems, make a line graph for the data set below. Label both the x (horizontal) and y (vertical) axis properly. Give the graph a title.
- Quiz 2 - See what we have done over the days. All of these lines are established over that baseline.
- Quiz 3 - Create a graph that fits in the range of the data. Plot your points and connect your line. Once that is all together will we work on analyzing it in later topics.
How Do You Plot Line Graphs?
Line graphs are the most common ways of visualizing data consisting of two variables that depend on each other. It helps us understand trends and relationships that may exist between these data points much better. These graphs are ideal for visually representing the relation between two variables. It does this on a vertical axis and a horizontal axis. There 3 common steps to plotting these lines and when we start off with understanding their positioning it makes it easier to understand.
Step 1: A Table of Values - When plotting a linear graph, you will have to start by creating a table of values. Since you are creating a line, you simply need only two data points. If you draw a straight line, using a ruler, you have created the line. If you are only given the equation of the line, you can take three to four values of x, and by inserting these values into the equation, you can find the corresponding values of y. Again, you really only need two coordinate positions (ordered pairs) to create the line. You can then use the values of x and y to plot the line on the graph.
Step 2: Finding the Intercepts - To make the graph more accurate, you can find the x- and y-intercepts. Finding these intercepts is easy. These values indicate the exact position where the line cross each of these respective axes. To find the x-intercept, you put '0' in the place of y. To find the y-intercept you put '0' in the place of x.
Step 3: Plotting - Use the values from the table and x-, y-intercepts to plot the graph. Connect the points and form a straight line. I find that students have a higher success rate when they get in the habit of finding the x position first and then moving up or down to find the y position.