Creating Dot Plots and Histograms: 6th Grade Statistics and Graphing
- Year groups
- Years 6–9
- Pages
- 5
- File type
- Preparation
- Print ready
- Subject
- Graphing, Maths
- Topic
- Graphing, Statistics
- Resource types
- Activities
- Preparation
- Print ready
From the author
About this resource
Here's a ready to go activity for students in 6th grade maths class. They will collect numerical data and create their own dot plots and histograms to display their findings! This gives them a sense of ownership over their learning, and it is a great way to assess their skills!
Student Instructions:
Step 1: Think of a question with 6-8 numerical answer options. For example: ‘How many siblings do you have’ could include the answers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5+
‘How long does it take you to get to school’ could include 0-10 mins, 10-20 mins, 20-30 mins, 30-40 mins, 40-50 mins, 50-60 mins, and 1hr+
Step 2: Survey at least 20 people. Record each answer with a tally mark in the right column.
Step 3: Turn your data set into a dot plot (using the provided template).
Step 4: Turn your data set into a histogram (using the provided template).
Step 5: Reflect on the process by answering discussion questions and self-assessing your skills.
Grades to Use With:
What's Included:
5 Page PDF: Title Page
Survey Data Collection Page
Dot Plot Template
Histogram Template
Reflection and Self-Assessment
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In the classroom
Teaching tips & learning objectives
Learning objectives
Generate an original statistical survey question with 6-8 numerical answer options.
Collect and tally data from at least 20 survey respondents.
Construct a dot plot from collected data with correctly labeled axes and a title.
Construct a histogram from collected data with correctly labeled axes and a title.
Compare dot plots and histograms and reflect on which chart type is easier to read.
Teaching tips
Review the two worked question examples (number of siblings, commute time) before students design their own, to model a valid 6-8-option numerical question.
Set aside class time or a homework window for the 20-person survey step, since it requires gathering data outside the worksheet itself.
Use the built-in self-assessment rubric as a quick formative check on which of the four project skills need reteaching.
Skills covered
Statistical question design — students write their own survey question with 6-8 numerical answer options, modeled on two worked examples.
Data collection and tallying — students survey at least 20 people and record responses in a tally chart.
Dot plot construction — students plot data points above labeled x-axis categories on a pre-scaled y-axis.
Histogram construction — students shade bars by frequency above labeled x-axis categories on a pre-scaled y-axis.
Self-reflection and self-assessment — students compare chart types and rate their own mastery on a 5-point rubric across 4 skills.
Good to know
Questions teachers ask about this resource
Does the worksheet supply the survey question, or do students create their own?
Students create their own — two worked examples (number of siblings, commute time) model how to write a valid question with 6-8 numerical answer options, and the actual question line is left blank for the student to fill in.
Are the dot plot and histogram grids pre-drawn?
Yes — both step 3 and step 4 provide a labeled y-axis scale from 1 to 11 and blank x-axis boxes, so students only need to add their own category labels and plot their data.
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Resource details
Concepts & topics
Core concepts
Core concepts
Dot plots
Histograms
Data collection
Statistical questions
Self-assessment
Topics
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