graphing Skill
Name: ______________________________________
Date: _________________
World-Record Pumpkins
0
Largest-Recorded Pumpkins,
Select Years From 1980 to 2010
1,810 lb
1,450 lb
1,150 lb
990 lb
817 lb
612 lb
459 lb
1980
1984
1990
Indicates a gap in the scale
1994
Year
2000
2004
2010
1. In this graph, what is the unit of measurement
used for pumpkin weight?
4. What is the trend in the weight for the world’s
heaviest pumpkins from 1980 to 2010?
________________________________________________
2. What did the world’s heaviest pumpkin weigh
in 1984?
________________________________________________
3. How much heavier was the record-holding
pumpkin for 2000 than the record holder
in 1994?
________________________________________________
Visit www.scholastic.com/superscience
________________________________________________
5. If the trend in pumpkin weight were to continue,
what could you predict about the future weight
of the heaviest pumpkin in 2014?
________________________________________________
6. BONUS: What could be a reason for the trend in
pumpkin size?
________________________________________________
SuperScience • October 2012
PERMISSION GRANTED TO REPRODUCE FOR CLASSROOM USE ONLY. COPYRIGHT © 2012 BY SCHOLASTIC INC.
1850
1800
1750
1700
1650
1600
1550
1500
1450
1400
1350
1300
1250
1200
1150
1100
1050
1000
950
900
850
800
750
700
650
600
550
500
450
Source: www.giantpumpkin.com/world_records.php
Pumpkin Weight (in pounds)
In “Pumped-Up Plants” (pp. 10-13), you read about a gardener who grows giant pumpkins for
competition. The graph below features world-record weights for pumpkins at certain years between
1980 and 2010. Use the graph to answer the questions below.