Virtual Science Teachers
Virtual Science Teachers8 GRAPH MAKERS

Graph Makers

Choose a graph maker, enter your data, and create your own graph.

All 8 graph makers

Select Open Tool to get started, or read an example for a quick explanation.

Line graph (one data set) examplePlant heights are 2, 4, 7, 9, and 10 centimeters on days 0 through 4.Height (cm)061201234Day
Example: one plant’s height over time.

Line Graph Maker

Follow one data set over time or other ordered numerical values.

Open Tool
Read this example: Line graph One data set

Follow the connected points. This plant grew from 2 cm on day 0 to 10 cm on day 4.

Connect points when their sequence is meaningful. Separate categories, such as bird types, belong on a bar graph.

Line graph (multiple sets) examplePlant A heights are 2, 4, 7, 9, 10 cm; plant B heights are 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 cm, on days 0 through 4. Plant B uses a dashed line and square markers.Height (cm)061201234DayAB
Example: two plants’ heights over time.

Line Graph Maker(Multiple Sets)

Compare how two or more data sets change over the same time or numerical scale.

Open Tool
Read this example: Line graph Multiple sets

Each line follows one plant. On day 4, plant A is 10 cm tall and plant B is 6 cm tall. The legend identifies the lines.

Use the same units and scales so the lines can be compared fairly.

Bar graph (one data set) exampleSix robins, nine sparrows, and three crows were counted at site A.Birds counted0510RobinSparrowCrowBird type693
Example: counts of three bird types.

Bar Graph Maker

Compare amounts or counts for different categories.

Open Tool
Read this example: Bar graph One data set

Compare bar heights. There are 6 robins, 9 sparrows, and 3 crows. Sparrows have the largest count.

The labels name categories. Leave spaces between bars and start the count scale at zero.

Bar graph (multiple sets) exampleSite A has 6 robins, 9 sparrows, 3 crows. Site B has 4 robins, 5 sparrows, 7 crows. In each pair, site A is the left bar and site B is the right bar.Birds counted0510RobinSparrowCrowBird typeSite ASite B
Example: bird counts at two sites.

Bar Graph Maker(Multiple Sets)

Compare the same categories across two or more groups.

Open Tool
Read this example: Bar graph Multiple sets

Compare bars within each bird type. Site A has 9 sparrows; site B has 5. The legend tells you which site each bar represents.

Keep category names and measurement units consistent across groups.

Pie chart exampleOf twenty students, ten ride the bus (50 percent), six walk (30 percent), and four bike (20 percent). These are each student’s usual way to school.Bus · 50%Walk · 30%Bike · 20%20 students in total
Example: how one class gets to school.

Pie Chart Maker

Show shares of one whole. Parts must not overlap, and together they equal 100%.

Open Tool
Read this example: Pie chart

The whole circle is 20 students. Half ride the bus, so the 50% slice represents 10 students. Each student is counted in just one category.

Include every part of the whole. A bar graph is often easier for comparing similar-sized values.

Scatter plot exampleEight plants have (light hours, height cm) pairs (2,6), (3,8), (4,7), (4,11), (5,10), (6,13), (7,12), (8,16). The dots tend upward.Height (cm)0918048Light per day (h)
Example: each plant’s light and height.

Scatter Plot Maker

Look for a relationship between two numerical measurements for each item.

Open Tool
Read this example: Scatter plot

Each dot is one plant with two measurements. Read across for daily light and up for height. The pattern suggests that plants getting more light tend to be taller.

A relationship does not prove cause and effect. Do not connect separate items dot to dot.

Dot plot exampleThere are 3 students with 0 pets, 6 with 1, 7 with 2, 4 with 3, 2 with 4, and 2 with 5 pets, for twenty-four responses.Each dot = 1 student012345Number of pets
Example: number of pets for 24 students.

Dot Plot Maker

Show every value in one numerical data set. Especially useful for small data sets.

Open Tool
Read this example: Dot plot

Each dot is one student’s answer. Seven dots above 2 mean seven students have two pets each. Two pets is the most common answer.

Stack repeated values. The total number of dots is the number of responses, not the total number of pets.

Histogram exampleSeedling counts in intervals 4 to less than 6, 6 to less than 8, 8 to less than 10, 10 to less than 12, and 12 to less than 14 cm are 4, 6, 9, 5, and 2, for twenty-six seedlings.Number of seedlings0510468101214Seedling height (cm)46952
Example: heights of 26 seedlings.

Histogram Maker

Group numerical values into intervals to see their spread, especially in larger data sets.

Open Tool
Read this example: Histogram

Bar height counts measurements in a range. Nine seedlings are at least 8 cm but less than 10 cm tall. The bars touch because the intervals meet.

Use equal-width intervals in this maker. Changing their width can change the pattern you see.

Quick tips for choosing a graph

Bar or histogram?

Bar: separate categories, with spaces between bars. Histogram: numerical intervals, with touching bars. Both count scales start at zero.

Line or scatter?

Line: follow change in a meaningful sequence. Scatter: look for a relationship between paired measurements. Separate items are not connected.

Dot plot or histogram?

Dot plot: see each exact value. Histogram: see counts within ranges. Both show how one numerical data set is spread out.

Before you graph: add a clear title, labels and units, a fair scale, and a legend if you have multiple data sets.

All examples use made-up data for learning.© Virtual Science Teachers. All rights reserved.