By the time kids reach high school they need to be able to understand, interpret, and retrieve and input data from graphical representations such as bar charts, pie charts, line graphs and so on.
And there is no time to teach like the present. Teaching the use of graphs can be very fun and engaging for kids when done right and when pitched at the right age or level of ability.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a selection of 15 of the best worksheets out there for teaching the use of graphs across a wide range of ability levels. We think you’ll like them. Here goes!
On the right-hand side of this worksheet there are several images depicting different flowers, including roses, daisies, and more. Meanwhile on the left-hand side of the page there is a grid for the child to fill.
The grid features three columns, one for each type of flower presented on the right, and going all the way up to 10 vertically.
The kid fills in the squares, each square representing one flower, until the totals are reached, resulting in a bar graph. And when this is done the kid gets to color in the whole sheet.
To access this worksheet, simply click on this link.
The top part of this worksheet features several images of easily distinguishable cartoon dinosaurs. Meanwhile on the lower part of the worksheet, there’s a grid featuring 4 columns for each type of dinosaur, and 5 rows for the numbers.
The child has to count how many there are of each type of dinosaur and color in the correct corresponding number of rectangles on the grid to make a bar chart graph.
It’s an easy worksheet because the child only has to know their numbers up to number 5.
And when this is done the kid gets to color in the whole sheet.
To access this worksheet, simply click on this link.
In this worksheet, a simple bar chart graph is presented to the child in full color.
The bar graph is a representation of some kids’ favorite fruits, and the colors in the bar chart are representative of different fruits, which are depicted in image form at the bottom of the corresponding columns. Meanwhile the y-axis is very clearly labeled, going up to the number 8.
Underneath the bar chart are 6 questions for the kids to answer about the kids’ preferred fruits, based on what they can garner from the bar chart.
To access this worksheet, simply click on this link.
In this worksheet, a simple bar chart graph is presented to the child in full color.
The bar graph is a representation of the numbers of different animals present at a zoo. Below each column is an image of each animal that the columns represent.
Meanwhile the y-axis is very clearly labeled, going up to the number 8.
Underneath the bar chart are 6 questions for the kids to answer about the numbers of different animals at the zoo, based on what they can garner from the bar chart.
To access this worksheet, simply click on this link.
This worksheet features several images of cute cartoon creatures of the deep. On the right-hand side of the page there’s a tally chart which the child can use to count up the total numbers of each creature in the picture.
Then they can use this data to color in the grid at the bottom of the page with the totals to create a bar chart graph. And when this is done the kid gets to color in the whole sheet.
To access this worksheet, simply click on this link.
The first two sheets in this set of worksheets feature an easy to interpret bar chart and pictogram on the top half of the sheets, followed by a series of 6 questions that require the student to interpret the graph.
The 3rd and final sheet gets a lot more interactive. The teacher or parent uses the worksheet to create a spinning wheel featuring 5 images of cute cartoon pets.
The adult then spins the wheel 25 times, and the child or children create a tally chart to count how many times each pet is landed on. They can then create a bar chart using the data they have collected.
To access this worksheet, simply click on this link.
Kids will enjoy these worksheets because they get to go out of the classroom/house and go outdoors. And this in itself makes the activity more engaging.
On the first sheet, kids have to count how many of each color car they spot in a car park. Then, there’s a very large grid underneath the table where they can plot the results.
Then, when they get back in, there’s a series of questions on the 2nd sheet, getting them to interpret their graph.
To access these worksheets, simply click on this link.
During this time of climate crisis it’s important that kids learn about climate change, and how there seems to be a link between atmospheric carbon dioxide and global temperatures.
And these worksheets aimed at older kids demonstrate exactly that. The first sheet features a table with all the data they need, and there’s also graph paper provided so that the kids can then go on to create a line graph based on the data.
To access these worksheets, simply click on this link.
This set of worksheets not only tests the pupil’s ability to plot a bar chart, but it also gets them learning their times tables too.
Each sheet features a spinning wheel with numbers that are multiples of a specific number. The wheel is to be spun several times, and on the bar chart underneath, different times tables are represented, and the child must plot the chart out accordingly.
The free sheets include ones for the 4, 7, and 8 times tables.
To access these worksheets, simply click on this link.
This is a great set of worksheets to teach kids about graph coordinates because it’s so interactive and hands-on.
In one sheet they are provided with the coordinates specifying where each shape should appear on a graph, and they are to plot those shapes onto the graph, by cutting each shape and gluing it in place.
Then their activities are reversed. Certain shapes appear on a graph and the pupil must identify the coordinates for each shape.
To access these worksheets, simply click on this link.
This is the most versatile worksheet for graph work out there because it’s just a plain grid that you can apply to absolutely any data.
You can make up your own table of data and put it on a blackboard or whiteboard or piece of paper, and the child/children can draw a bar graph based on that data. Or you can provide them with coordinates and they can plot a line graph.
To access this worksheet, simply click on this link.
This is a very interactive and unpredictable set of worksheets.
It requires the student to make a note of the weather conditions every day for one month, and color in one box for each occurrence of the weather conditions represented on the bottom of the grid.
Then when the month is over they can move onto the 2nd worksheet which asks the student to interpret the graph of data on the 1st sheet.
To access these worksheets, simply click on this link.
Kids love worksheets that are centered around things they’re into. And who doesn’t like a nice hot chocolate? With these worksheets, kids get to do a survey among their classmates or family members about how they like their hot chocolate.
They can then count up the results in a tally chart, or by coloring boxes to form a bar chart.
To access these worksheets, simply click on this link.
Kids love worksheets that are centered around things they’re into. And who doesn’t like good old fashioned pizza!
With these worksheets, kids get to do a survey among their classmates or family members about what toppings they like on their pizza, including cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, and olives. They can then count up the results by coloring boxes to form a bar chart.
To access these worksheets, simply click on this link.
While younger kids can soon become more familiar with bar graphs, line graphs don’t get as much attention with younger age groups, which is where worksheets like these come in, explaining exactly how a line graph works.
Then on the 2nd sheet, the kids get to have a go at creating a line graph themselves from scratch.
To access these worksheets, simply click on this link.
Final Thoughts
So as you can see, there are all sorts of free graphing worksheets out there for you to download and use. You’re sure to find at least one you want to use in our selection of favorites!
Hi, my name is Helena Waters and I was a teacher for 40 years before retiring last year.
During my time as a teacher I dedicated the majority of it to making classrooms as fun as possible, with educational parties, fun activities, and low cost entertainment that made the children excited about learning.
I taught children of all ages, from preschoolers to high school students. Now, with the pandemic having uprooted everything that children once knew about school and learning, I think that the need for my ideas is bigger than ever.
That is why I created School Sparks, a place in which I can write down and share all of my ideas on how to get students excited about going to school again. I hope that you’ll find some useful within a school setting, even at home too!
