Graphing Data in the Social StudiesHow to Use Line and Pie GraphsTo Illustrate Your Data

Presented by:

Mark A. Van HeckeInstructional DesignerEast China, Michiganmvanhecke@Comcast.net

What you’ll learn:

• Describe ways of visualizing data

• Explain how federal aid to state and local government is dispersed .

• Create graphs to visualize data related to federal aid to state and local governments

Tables

Tables are used to organize data and display numeric information

Line Graphs

Line graphs are used to display data that change over time

Pie Graphs

Pie-graphs are used to compare parts of a whole

Federal Aid to State and Local Government

The federal government uses its aid to state local governments funds to advance many national goals including education, infrastructure as well as human welfare programs

Problem 1 Dollars allocated to Health and Human Services 1980-2010

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

$48,000,000,000

$49,000,000,000

$60,000,000,000

$140,000,000,000

$150,000,000,000

$248,000,000,000

$350,000,000,000

Dollars allocated to Health and Human Services include Medicare, Medicaid and welfare payments

Create a graph to accurately display this data

Problem 1Dollars allocated to Health and Human Services 1980-2010350

300

250

200

150

100

50

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Billio

ns o

f Dol

lars

Establish a range for both the X and Y axes

Plot points from the table to illustrate the data

Problem 2 Federal Aid to State and Local Governments Fiscal Year 2010

Agriculture

Health/Human Services

Education

Transportation

Housing/Urban development

Other Agencies

$32.8

$348.2

$73.2

$63.9

$55.3

$56.8

Billions of federal dollars are often distributed to states and communities for a variety of projects.

Let’s Create a pie graph to accurately display this data

5.0%

55.3%

11.6%

10.1%

8.8%

9.2%

The table to the left shows billions of dollars and percentages of the total Federal Aid Budget for several categories of spending

Problem 2 Federal Aid to State and Local Governments Fiscal Year 2010

Now, let’s convert the percentages into degrees that we can use to calibrate the pie graph

Agriculture

Health/Human Services

Education

Transportation

Housing/Urban development

Other Agencies

$32.8

$348.2

$73.2

$63.9

$55.3

$56.8

5.0%

55.3%

11.6%

10.1%

8.8%

9.2%

18°

199°

42°

36°

32°

33°

Do this by converting the percentage into a decimal and multiplying the decimal by 360

Problem 2 Federal Aid to State and Local Governments Fiscal Year 2010

Next, lay your protractor over the midpoint of the circle on your worksheet as shown.

Measure 19° from the bottom of the circle (180°) and mark this point along the circle.

Problem 2 Federal Aid to State and Local Governments Fiscal Year 2010

Your graph should now look like this

Health and Human Services 55%

Problem 2 Federal Aid to State and Local Governments Fiscal Year 2010

Next, measure 42° from the line you just drew (199°)

Health and Human Services 55%

Education 12%

Problem 2 Federal Aid to State and Local Governments Fiscal Year 2010

Next, measure 36° from the line you just drew

Health and Human Services 55%

Education 12%

Transportation 10%

Problem 2 Federal Aid to State and Local Governments Fiscal Year 2010

Next, measure 33° from the line you just drew

Health and Human Services 55%

Education 12%

Transportation 10%

Other Agencies 9%

Problem 2 Federal Aid to State and Local Governments Fiscal Year 2010

Next, measure 32° from the line you just drew

Health and Human Services 55%

Education 12%

Transportation 10%

Other Agencies 9%

Housing/Urban Development 9%

Agriculture 5%

Problem 2 Federal Aid to State and Local Governments Fiscal Year 2010

Color your graph just one color to allow readers to focus on the data

Health and Human Services 55%

Education 12%

Transportation 10%

Other Agencies 9%

Housing/Urban Development 9%

Agriculture 5%