1. MISLEADING GRAPHS Powerpoint by Leah Montange Lesson by Leah Montange and Daniel Perry

2. EALR’s and GLE’s Grade Level: Grade 4 EALR: 3. The student uses mathematical reasoning. Component: 3.1 Analyze information. GLE: 3.1.1 Analyze and compare numerical, measurement, geometric, and/or statistical information in familiar situations. EX: Differentiate between a valid and invalid comparison of mathematical information or results.

3. Learning Objectives Students will be able to identify whether graphs are misleading. Students will be able to identify the factors that can make bar graphs, line graphs, and scatter plots misleading. Students will be able to interpret whose interests are favored by misleading graphs.

4. Think About It: What is misleading about this graph? How could the graph be changed to reflect the data more accurately? Why would someone make a graph that is misleading in this way?

5. Why is this graph misleading?

6. The same data: www.mediamatters.org/items/200503220005

7. Factors that make a graph misleading: Y-axis scale is too big or too small Y-axis skips numbers, or does not start at zero X-axis scale is too big or too small X-axis skips numbers, or does not start at zero Axes are not labeled Data is left out What else?

8. Think Pair Share What is misleading about this graph? How could the graph be changed to reflect the data more accurately? Why would someone make a graph that is misleading in this way?

9. http://sde.state.ok.us/publ/invest00/bench.html

10. http://www.brickonomist.net/?cat=20

11. Activity Time Gather class data Make a class data table Individually graph it: –Accurate graph –Misleading graph

12. Interdisciplinary Connections: Media Literacy Accommodation Notes: Opportunity to express socioeconomic class-related perspectives on the validity of data (See Trentatosta, p. 48)

13. Notes on Pedagogy: Empowerment of students to be able to read the world. We made a point of: Using real published graphs from news sources, advertisements, reports, etc. Having the class create misleading graphs using real data that the class generates