1. Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 6
Term 2: Matter and Materials
Dissolving

2. Making and using graphs
Topic 4 Dissolving
Making and using graphs
Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 4

3. What is the purpose of graphs?
In science, graphs are used to:
show information visually (using pictures);
show the results of scientific investigations;
help people put data into categories;
help people compare data;
summarise and display information in an easy way for people to understand. 
Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 4

4. Three different types of graphs
Pictographs can show
information in a picture form;
Bar graphs can be used to:
compare data;
show how something changes over time;
Line graphs can show how
something changes over time.
Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 4

5. Example of a pictograph
Number of learners in class this week
6 children
5 children
4 children
3 children
2 children
1 child
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 4

6. Number of learners in class this week
Example of a bar graph
Number of learners in class this week
6 children
5 children
4 children
3 children
2 children
1 child
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 4

7. Number of learners in class this week
Example of a line graph
Number of learners in class this week
6 children
5 children
4 children
3 children
2 children
1 child
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 4

8. Different parts of a graph
1. Title
Every graph must have a title which explains what is in the graph
Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 4

9. Different parts of graphs
2. Y-Axis
Every graph has a y-axis
The y-axis runs vertically (up and down)
The y-axis usually has numbers for things being counted
Tell the learners that you are sure that they have heard the explanation about the x and y axis numerous times.
Inform them that you are aware that it might have been hard for them to remember which one is which.
Teach them the "rhymes " x to the left and y to the sky.”
Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 4

10. Different parts of graphs
3. X-Axis
Every graph has an x-axis
The x-axis runs horizontally (flat)
The x-axis usually represents time periods or names of things being compared
Tell the learners that you are sure that they have heard the explanation about the x and y axis numerous times.
Inform them that you are aware that it might have been hard for them to remember which one is which.
Teach them the "rhymes " x to the left and y to the sky.”
Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 4

11. Different parts of graphs
4. Legend
Most graphs have a legend
Just like a map it helps the reader understand what they are looking at.
The legend tells what each line (or shaded area or point) represents
Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 4

12. Summary of the parts of a graph
1. Title
Every graph must have a title which explains what is in the graph
2. Y-Axis
Every graph has a y-axis
The y-axis runs vertically (up and down)
The y-axis usually has numbers for things being counted
3. X-Axis
Every graph has an x-axis
The y-axis runs horizontally (flat)
The y-axis usually represents time periods or names of things being compared
4. Legend
Most graphs have a legend
Just like a map it helps the reader understand what they are looking at.
The legend tells what each line (or shaded area or point) represents
Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 4