184
Graphing
G 7 Graphing with Connecting Cubes
◆
Core Activity
Objective
To introduce the use of connecting cubes to gather
and represent data.
Key Mathematics Concepts and Skills
• Count and compare data represented physically by children and by connecting cubes.
[Number and Numeration Goals 2 and 4]
• Represent data with connecting cubes. [Data and Chance Goal 1]
• Use a cube graph to get information and answer questions. [Data and Chance Goal 2]
Other Skills Listening and Speaking, Reading and Writing
Terms to Use graph, more, fewer, less, most, fewest, least, same number, equal,
Planning Tip You may want
to do this graphing activity using
three books by the same author
or with a similar theme, such as
fairy tales or winter books.
some, none, zero, all
Materials familiar children’s books; red, blue, and yellow connecting cubes; small
containers; index cards or stick-on notes
▶ Main Activity
Whole Group
Small Group
Partners
Center
Show the group three familiar books. Tell children that they will have a chance to pick
which of these books they like the best. Set out a container of connecting cubes next to
each book, one color for each book. Tell children that they will take a cube to show their
choices. Give children a few moments to think, and then invite each child to take one
cube of the color that corresponds to his or her chosen book.
Ask children how they might figure out which book was chosen by most children. If no
one suggests it, have the group of children who chose each book line up together. Count
and record how many children are in each line, and compare the lengths of the lines.
NOTE You can use connecting
cubes to graph many different
topics. Once children are familiar
with the method, you can make
it part of your classroom voting
routine. (See Classroom Voting,
page 180.)
Some children may suggest that each group puts its cubes together. If this doesn’t come
up, propose the idea. Explain that if they show the information with the cubes, they will
be able to see it even after they sit down again. Have each group put its cubes together
in a stack and count them. Ask: Did you count the same number of cubes as people in
the line? Why? Put the cube stacks next to each other and compare them. Ask children
questions about the results, such as: Which book is most popular? Which book did the
fewest children choose? Place the cube stacks where children can see them. Label the
stacks with index cards or stick-on notes.
Little Red
Riding Hood
Goldilocks and
the Three Bears
Three Billy
Goats Gruff
▶ Connections
Literacy Connection Read and compare several versions of a familiar fairy tale. (If your
class graphed fairy tales in the main activity, you might use the class favorite.) You may
want to act out the story and/or create your own version of the story as a class.
Mathematics Connection Have children pick up a handful of connecting cubes in
each hand, attach the cubes from each hand into a line, and compare the lengths. Ask
questions such as: Did one hand hold more than the other? Were there a lot more cubes
or just a few more?
185
Building
NOTE Be sure children
understand that the cubes they
add to the graph represent their
own choices, just as their personal
graphing markers represented
their own choices in previous
graphs. (See Getting-to-Know-You
Graphs, page 178, and Graphing
Favorite Activities, page 182.) You
may also need to help children
understand that each color cube
represents a different book.