Students will create their own graph from statistical data contained in local news articles. Teacher selects article from local newspaper, preferably an article with numbers. (Suggested sections: Lifestyle, Business or Sports).

Instruct students to read the article to themselves, paying close attention to terms and figures (or "graphable data"). Discuss article aloud with class. Decide on graph title. Naming the graph is an important activity. It helps the student to correctly identify the terms and figures they will need for their graph.

There will be some information in the article that will not be useful for graphing. Students should be able to discern through class discussion unnecessary information.

Identify the labeled points of areas you will be graphing. Calculate the amounts to be graphed. Draw graph axes. Decide what will be on the horizontal axis and the vertical axis. Calculate the average amount of each type. Determine the pattern of numbers to be used for "Amounts". Plot the bar graph.

Add variety to your assignment; ask students to color bar graph.