Graphically Yours in Maine: Community Statistics
Developed by: Maine Council for the Social Studies

divider line - brown/gray, with break in the line
Grade Level: 3-4

The MLR performance indicators listed below are for illustrative purposes. Depending on the focus of the lessons as developed by individual teachers, these indicators may or may not be addressed. Conversely this is not a definitive listing of all of the performance indicators which could be addressed in this lesson.

MLR: Geography: A-2; Mathematics: C-1; D-2; F-1, F-2; G-1; K-1; Visual and Performing Arts: C-1

 

Task Description:

Students should brainstorm a list of characteristics that they have in common, such as: they all live in a community, the communities have certain similarities, there are roads, trash, schools, and the like.

After arriving at a list, students should choose three categories upon which to focus

Student Product/Performance

Students will be creating bar graphs. They will need statistics for their graphs. Younger students could make three graphs, older students could make one graph using three colors.

 Resources (students may need help with these documents)

Maine Local Roads and Bridges Data

Maine Municipal Association 1998 Fiscal Survey   Needs Acrobat Reader 

Police and Fire Department sections from the MMA 1999 Salary Survey  Needs Acrobat Reader (Numbers of staff in various positions can be determined as well as salary.)

Criteria for Evaluation

Graphs will have a title, be neat, both axis’s labeled and information graphed, and the sources of the statistical information identified. Graphs should be displayed.