Gingerbread Graph Ideas

It is very easy to incorporate graphing into a gingerbread man unit. Consider these possibilities to get the creative juices flowing. Remember to include different kinds of graphs as suggested below.

• Gingerbread Info.: As an introduction to the unit, graph how many students have eaten a gingerbread cookie, baked a gingerbread cookie or decorated a gingerbread cookie. [clothespin graph with simple yes/no options]
• Gingerbread Bites: Ask students to take one bite of their gingerbread cookie.   Graph or tally how many students bit off the head, the right arm, left arm, right leg or left leg. [bar graph, as shown, or pictograph using pieces]
• Gingerbread Taste Test: Have children taste several different gingerbread cookies, including homemade and store-bought. Ask students to vote for their favorite cookie. [bar graph]
• Gingerbread Man Stories: After reading several different versions of the classic story, ask students to vote on their favorite. [pictograph using book die cuts]
• Gingerbread Unit: At the conclusion of the gingerbread unit, have students vote on their favorite activity. [bar graph]

Bar Grapher Tool

NCTM's Illumination site offers a free Bar Grapher Tool students may use to create a bar graph of their own data.  Students simply input the data, select appropriate minimum and maximum values, width of bars, color of bars, then click on Graph Data to create a bar graph.

The graph to the left represents one trial of Mathwire's Cereal Toy Applet.

 This is a useful tool for the math classroom.  Once students know how to create a bar graph with all of the necessary components, the emphasis moves more toward the analysis of results.  Allowing students to use real-world graphing applications provides more time for discussion and analysis of group results.  


Check out the Bar Grapher Tool on the NCTM Illuminations site.