GRAPH 7
Which Pet Would You Get?
PET SHOP
15
13
12
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
3
2
1
DOG
CAT
FISH
HAMSTER
TYPE OF PET
10 Write-On/Wipe-Off Graphs © Scholastic Teaching Resources
SNAKE
BIRD
8
GRAPH 7
LESSON PLAN
Which Pet Would You Get?
Dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, snakes, birds—if kids could pick their own pet,
which would they choose? This lively graphing activity is sure to engage the
animal lover in every child!
Thematic Ties
* Animals
* All About Me
Skills and Standards
* Graphing
* Number Sense
* Predicting
* Sorting and Classifying
* Interpreting Data
* Comparing Sets
* Counting
* Addition
* Word Problems
Reading the Graph
1 Make sure that children understand the purpose of this graph: to
show, at a glance, what animal—dog, cat, fish, hamster, snake, or
bird—each child would choose as a pet. Now, boost math and
critical-thinking skills by posing questions, such as:
*
*
*
*
*
Which animal did Dara choose? Henry? Jeremy?
Which animal was the most popular among children?
Which animal was the least popular among children?
What other conclusions can you draw by looking at the graph?
Were any of the predictions regarding favorite pets correct?
Discuss.
*
What are the pros and cons of owning each type of animal?
To help focus learning, “publish” your findings on a piece of paper
and display it beside the graph for all to see.
lntroducing the Graph
Place Graph 7 on an easel, having children gather around so that
everyone can read it. Discuss pets for a while, encouraging kids to
share personal stories. Does anyone have an unusual animal at home?
How about a funny anecdote about their cat or dog? Engage non-pet
owners in the conversation, too, by encouraging them to tell you what
2 Next, use the graph as a springboard to create a few ageappropriate word problems, such as:
*
*
*
How many more children chose cats than dogs?
How many fewer children chose snakes than fish?
Was the total number of children who chose fish, hamster, or
snake, less than or greater than those who chose dogs alone?
Finally, challenge children to brainstorm original graph-based word
problems to share with classmates.
animals they’d like to have and why. Next, point to the graph and
explain that everyone is going shopping at a make-believe pet store in
3 Display the graph on an easel or chalk-ledge for a day, a week, or
which they can each choose one animal. This pet store doesn’t have
longer. Then, wipe clean with a damp tissue for further use.
every kind of animal, but it does have dogs, cats, fish, hamsters,
snakes, and birds. What type of pet do students think will be the most
popular? Jot predictions on the board.
Extending Learning
Ask children to complete this writing prompt:
Completing the Graph
“At the Pretend Pet Shop, I chose a _______ for
a pet because______________. “ If kids are
1 Ask: “If you could choose one and only one pet, which would
proficient writers, challenge them to write a
you pick?” Point to the first column, which is labeled “Dog.” Ask
paragraph. If not, have them complete the
children to raise their hands if they would choose a dog. Then,
sentence via dictation and create a companion
beginning at the bottom of the graph, jot each child’s name on a
illustration. Display finished products on a
successive horizontal line, as shown above. TIP: If children are older,
bulletin board entitled, “Read All About Our
invite them to come up, one by one, and write their own names on
Pet Picks!”
Cats are the most popular
pet in the United States.
About one out of every
three households has
at least one.
the lines of the graph.
2 Next, point to the “Cat” column, prompting children to raise their
hands if they would like to have a cat for a pet. Write each child’s
Book Break
name on a successive line. Repeat this activity to fill each column,
The Best Pet of All by David LaRochelle
until everyone has had an opportunity to choose one animal.
(Dutton, 2004)
Kids will love this quirky tale of a boy who convinces his mom to let
him get his very own dragon. Your class will giggle at the zany pros
and cons of caring for such a high-maintenance pet.
10 Write-On/Wipe-Off Graphs © Scholastic Teaching Resources