Virtual Science Teachers

Data Analysis Progression

Each graph includes 4 activities designed to build graph reading and data analysis skills.


👉 Share feedback or suggest a graph: Google Form

Suggested Use: We recommend completing the activities in order to build students’ understanding and confidence in reading and interpreting graphs.

 

  1. Gradual Graph Reveal- The graph is revealed step by step for teacher-led discussion. Students observe the data, make predictions, and discuss what the graph might show before seeing the complete graph.
  2. Basic Graph Reading- Students answer multiple-choice questions that focus on reading values and identifying information directly from the graph. Auto-graded.
  3. Interpreting Patterns- Students answer multiple-choice questions that focus on identifying patterns, trends, and relationships in the data. Auto-graded.
  4. Claim • Evidence • Reasoning (CER)- Students write a short scientific explanation using evidence from the graph. A student CER guide and grading rubric are provided below.

Select any activity to open it in a new tab. From the activity page, you can copy the link or use the Embed button to add the activity directly to your LMS.

For CER Free-Response:

Make a Copy of Student CER Guide in a new tab. (Google Doc)

Make a Copy of CER Grading Rubric in a new tab. (Google Doc)

Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Food Production

Horizontal bar graph titled “Food: greenhouse gas emissions across the supply chain.” The graph shows greenhouse gas emissions measured in kilograms of CO₂-equivalents per kilogram of food for different food products. Each bar is divided into colored sections representing stages of the food supply chain: land use change, farming, animal feed, processing, transport, retail, packaging, and losses. Beef from beef herds has the highest total emissions at about 99 kg CO₂e per kilogram, followed by lamb and mutton at about 40 kg, and beef from dairy herds at about 33 kg. Cheese is about 24 kg, farmed fish about 14 kg, pig meat about 12 kg, and poultry meat about 9.9 kg. Plant-based foods have much lower emissions, including eggs at about 4.7 kg, rice at 4.5 kg, milk at 3.2 kg, peas at 0.98 kg, and bananas at 0.86 kg. For most foods, farming and land use change contribute the largest share of emissions, while transport and packaging contribute much smaller amounts.
Gradual Graph Reveal
Basic Graph Reading
Interpreting Patterns
Claim Evidence Reasoning

Methane Concentration in the Atmosphere

A line graph showing atmospheric methane concentration in parts per billion from about 800,000 years ago to 2024. Methane levels remain relatively stable for most of the timeline and then rise sharply in modern times.
Gradual Graph Reveal
Basic Graph Reading
Interpreting Patterns
Claim Evidence Reasoning

Black Carbon

Emissions

Our world in Data Black Carbon Emissions Graph
Gradual Graph Reveal
Basic Graph Reading
Interpreting Patterns
Claim Evidence Reasoning

Temperature vs Altitude

in Earth’s Atmosphere

Temperature vs. Altitude

Data Source: NOAA (Open Link in New Tab)

Gradual Graph Reveal
Basic Graph Reading
Interpreting Patterns
Claim Evidence Reasoning

Relative Sea Level Rise

Sewells Point, Virginia

Relative Sea Level Change at Sewells Point, Virginia

Data Source: NOAA (Open Link in New Tab)

Gradual Graph Reveal
Basic Graph Reading
Interpreting Patterns
Claim Evidence Reasoning

Antarctica and Greenland Ice Sheet Mass Balance

Ice Sheet Mass Balance Graph

Source: Our World in Data (Open Link in New Tab)

Gradual Graph Reveal
Basic Graph Reading
Interpreting Patterns
Claim Evidence Reasoning

Water Used by Common Activities

Bar graph showing gallons used for different household activities. Baths, washing clothes, and showers use the most gallons, while brushing teeth and hand washing use the least.

Source: USGS (Open Link in New Tab)

Gradual Graph Reveal
Basic Graph Reading
Interpreting Patterns
Claim Evidence Reasoning

Moose and Wolf Populations

Moose and Wolf Population Graph

Source: NPS (Open Link in New Tab)

Gradual Graph Reveal
Basic Graph Reading
Interpreting Patterns
Claim Evidence Reasoning

Hearing Frequency Ranges

Hearing Frequency Ranges Graph
Gradual Graph Reveal
Basic Graph Reading
Interpreting Patterns
Claim Evidence Reasoning

Speed of Sound in Water

Line graph titled “Speed of Sound in Water at Different Temperatures.” The graph shows water temperature on the x-axis, measured in degrees Celsius, and the speed of sound on the y-axis, measured in meters per second (m/s). As water temperature increases from 0°C to 40°C, the speed of sound increases steadily from about 1400 m/s to about 1530 m/s. The graph shows an upward trend, indicating that sound travels faster in warmer water.
Gradual Graph Reveal
Basic Graph Reading
Interpreting Patterns
Claim Evidence Reasoning

Speed of Sound in Different Materials

Bar graph comparing the approximate speed of sound in different materials. Sound travels slowest in air, faster in water, and fastest in solids such as wood, glass, and steel.
Gradual Graph Reveal
Basic Graph Reading
Interpreting Patterns
Claim Evidence Reasoning

Boiling Points of Common Liquids

Boiling Points of Common Liquids
Gradual Graph Reveal
Basic Graph Reading
Interpreting Patterns
Claim Evidence Reasoning

Hearing Frequency Ranges

Hearing Frequency Ranges Graph
Gradual Graph Reveal
Basic Graph Reading
Interpreting Patterns
Claim Evidence Reasoning
Launch Science Graph of the Week