This document provides guidance on constructing various types of graphs, including bar graphs, line graphs, climate graphs, percentage bar graphs, scatter plots, and pictographs. It explains the key elements that should be included in each graph, such as labeled axes, a title, legend/key, and scale. Examples of properly constructed graphs are also provided for each type to demonstrate how the guidance should be applied.

1. 1.4 REVISION WORKSHOP
1. Constructing Graphs
2. Interpreting Graphs
3. Scale
4. Taonga
5. Q&A

2. GRAPHING SKILLS
A ‘how to’ guide to constructing the perfect
graph for any occasion

3. What must every good graph have?
Frame
Accuracy/Axes labelled
Colour
Key
Title
Scale (even with no line breaks)

4. Bar Graphs
• Bar graphs are used to show comparisons between 2
different sets of data
• There are 2 different types of bar graphs
• Histograms (this is where all the bars are touching). These are used for
continuous data e.g. weight of snapper caught
• Column graphs (this is where there are gaps between bars). These are
used for non-continuous data e.g. colour of cars

5. How to draw a bar graph
1. Draw a x (horizontal) and y (vertical) axes using a ruler
2. Choose an appropriate scale for the vertical axis. Make sure this
starts at zero and goes up in EVEN amounts
3. Label the y (vertical) axis with what data is being shown and put the
measurement units in brackets
4. Label the x (horizontal) axis with the data being shown
5. If your data is continuous, start your bar right next to the y axis and
make sure your bars are touching. If your data is separate, leave a
gap between the y axis and your first bar.
6. Make sure your bars are all of equal width and that any gaps
between bars are all the same width if drawing a histogram
7. Label each bar below the x axis
8. Shade in the bars
9. Give the graph an appropriate title. This should include the type of
graph, both labels of the axes and year of data if known

6. Example of a bar graph
1.2
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0.8
0.6
0.4
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Bar graph showing GNP per person
(US$) for selected countries in 2001
Country
GNP per person ($US)
Y axis labelled
with units and
data being
shown
Scale
goes up in
equal
amounts
and starts
at zero
Title includes type of graph, labels
of both axes and year of data
Bars all
equal size
and gaps
consistent
All bars
labelled and
correctly
shaded
X axis labelled
with data
being shown

7. Percentage bar graphs
• A percentage bar graph is another type of graph used to
shown percentage figures
• It is easier to construct than a pie graph as you only need
a ruler and you don’t need a compass or protractor

8. How to draw a percentage bar graph
1. If not already done, convert the statistics to percentage
figures (amount divided by total amount and times by 100).
Check the total equals 100%
2. Rank the % from highest to lowest
3. Rule up a bar 10 cm long and 3cm wide
4. Give your map a scale, write 1cm = 10% or 1mm = 1%
5. Measure the highest % along your bar and rule a line where
it finishes (e.g. for 55% you would measure 5.5cm down the
bar)
6. Continue to plot the rest of the points working your way from
the highest % to the lowest %
7. Shade in each segment a different colour and rule up a key
8. Give the graph an appropriate title including the type of
graph, data being shown and year the data is for

9. Example of a percentage bar graph
Appropriate title given which
includes type of graph, data
shown and year of data
Percentage bar graph showing the type of
employment in India for 2009
Key is clearly
labelled and
colours used
Data is
added onto
bar from
highest % to
lowest %
Scale is provided along bottom
of graph OR you could have
just written 1cm = 10%

10. Line graphs
• Line graphs are used to show changes over time
• Generally if your data is set over a period of years, you
are probably going to need a line graph.
e.g. Population of New Zealand from 1981 - 2001
Year 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001
Population 3,194,500 3,313,500 3,516,000 3,762,300 3,912,100
• Remember line = time

11. How to draw a line graph
1. Rule a y (vertical) axis and x (horizontal) axis
2. Label the x (horizontal) axis Time (could be years or months)
3. Mark the time frames along the x axis, this must start at the y
axis and gaps between each period of time should be
consistent e.g. 1 cm for every 5 years
4. Identify the highest number for the data to be placed on the y
(vertical) axis and work out an appropriate scale
5. The scale up the y axis must increase in equal amounts and
start at zero
6. Label the y axis with the data being shown and units
7. Use crosses to plot the statistics on the graph making sure
each cross is directly above the year it is for
8. Join the crosses with a line
9. Give the graph an appropriate title which includes the type of
graph, labels of the y and x axis and date range of data

12. Example of a line graph
Y axis
labelled
with data
shown
Data starts at
zero and go
up in even
amounts
Dates start on y
axis, no gap
between first data
point and axis
Appropriate title given with type of graph,
data being shown and date range given
Line graph showing reported tetanus cases by
year 1945-2003
Each point
plotted
accurately and
joined by a line
X axis labelled with time and years
increase at regular intervals

13. Climate graph
• Climate graphs are used to show the average monthly
rainfall and average temperature for an area over a year
• They have 3 axis, the left axis is used for rainfall, the right
axis is used for temperature and the bottom axis is for the
months of the year
• There are TWO types of graphs to be added onto this.
• Rainfall is drawn using a BAR graph
• Temperature is drawn using a LINE graph

14. How to draw a climate graph
1. Label the left hand axis Rainfall (mm) and choose an appropriate
scale and go up in even amounts, starting from zero.
2. Label the right hand axis Temperature (ºC) and choose an
appropriate scale to go up in even amounts. This can start below
zero if you need to.
3. Label the bottom axis, Months and write the 1st letter of each
month in each of the 12 columns
4. Plot the data for rainfall using the left hand axis and by ruling bars
that take up the whole column.
5. Shade in the bars BLUE
6. Plot the data for temperature using the right hand axis. Plot each
temperature point in the MIDDLE of the month column.
7. Connect each temperature point with a smooth RED line and join
these to the right and left hand side axes
8. Give your graph an appropriate title which includes the type of
graph, place it is for and the year of the data if provided

15. Example of climate graph
Left hand axis
shows temp,
axis labelled
with ºC
Temperature
is shown
using a LINE
graph and is
done using
RED
Title includes LOCATION
and GRAPH TYPE
Rainfall is
shown using a
BAR graph
and is shaded
in BLUE
Points for the temperature
are plotted in the MIDDLE
of a column and joined with
a SMOOTH curve
Right
hand axis
shows
rainfall.
Axis is
labelled
with mm
Months are represented
down the bottom with a
letter

16. Interpreting climate graphs
• Know your seasons – in the Southern hemisphere: Winter
is June, July, August, Summer is December, January,
February
• Look at which seasons are the driest or wettest by adding
up the amount of rainfall for the seasons
• Calculate what seasons are the hottest or coldest by
averaging up the temperature for winter and summer (add
temperature for 3 months together and divide by 3)
• Figure out the temperature range of the area (highest
temperature minus the lowest temperature = temperature
range)

17. Statistical Mapping
• A statistical map is when you draw a series of small
graphs over a map all with the same scale.
• The graph is located on the map where the information is
for
e.g. if you had population information for Auckland,
Wellington and Christchurch. You would draw a
small bar graph for each, you would draw Auckland’s
population graph on where Auckland is on the map,
Wellington’s population graph on where Wellington
is on the map etc.

18. How to draw a statistical map
1. Choose a suitable graph form for the type of information
given e.g. percentage bar graph, bar graph
2. Decide on a scale you will use for the whole map e.g.
1cm = 100,000 people or 1mm = 1%
3. Write the scale for the graphs on your map
4. Draw individual graphs using the above scale on each
region to display the data needed
5. Shade in the graphs and create a key if needed
6. Give the map an appropriate title including type of
graph, information being shown and year of data

19. Example of a statistic map

20. Pictographs
• Pictographs are a type of graph that use symbols or
pictures that represent an amount of data
• You could be asked to interpret the information on one of
these (USE THE KEY) or complete one already started for
you
• If you need to complete one, use the symbol/picture given
and check the key to see how much each picture
represents. It is okay to only use ¼ or ½ of a symbol if
needed

21. How to interpret a pictograph
• Look for the key
• This will tell you
about how much
each symbol/picture
represents
• Use the key to add
up how much is for
each day, if only half
a symbol, only add
half the amount in
the key

22. Scatter graphs
• Scatter graphs are used to show a relationship between
two sets of data.
• The relationship may be negative if one set of data
increases as the other decreases
• The relationship can be positive if both sets of data
increase
• There may be no relationship if your crosses end up all
over the show

23. How to draw a scatter graph
1. Determine which set of data is independent (not reliant on the
other) and which set of data is dependent (relies on the other)
2. Rule a x (horizontal) axis and label with independent set of data
title. Look at the highest value of this data and work out an
appropriate scale to go up in even amounts starting from zero
3. Rule a y (vertical) axis and label with the dependent set of data
title. Look at the highest value of this data and work out an
appropriate scale to go up in even amounts starting from zero
4. Give the graph an appropriate title including the type of graph,
labels plus units used on both axes and the year of data if given
5. Use crosses to plot the points where the 2 sets of data meet for
each. Label each point with it’s name OR use a key
6. Rule a line of best fit through the crosses. This line should show the
general trend of the graph and should go through the pathway of
the most amount of crosses. It does NOT connect the crosses

24. Example of a scatter graph
Scatter graph showing relationship between $ GDP per person
and Y axis labelled % Adult literacy for selected countries
with
DEPENDENT
variable and
units
Scale starts at
zero and goes
up in even
amounts
Appropriate title given
starting with type of
graph, 2 axes labels and
who data is for
X (horizontal) axis labelled with
INDEPENDENT set of data and units
Line of best fit
drawn
Each point plotted
accurately where 2
sets of data meet
and labelled with
name

25. How to interpret a scatter graph
• A correlation means a relationship, how the sets of data affect one another
This means as
one set of data
increases, the
other set
increases also
This means
there is no
relationship
between the 2
sets of data
This means as
one set of data
increases, the
other set
decreases

26. Axes Graph

27. Choropleth Map

28. Comparative Column Graphs

29. Dot Distribution Map

30. Proportional Circles Map

31. Triple Axes Graph

32. Stepwise Migration Model

33. Urban Zone
Models

34. WORKING OUT RATIO SCALE
1m = 100cm
1km = 100,000cm
So if you measured on your topographic map and 3cm =
1km how would you change this into a ratio scale?
1. Firstly you write out…
3cm=1km then…
2. You need to change the km into cm therefore….
3cm = 100,000cm but…
3. A ratio must start with 1 therefore you need to divide
both sides by 3 SO…
4. 1cm = 33,333cm and as a ratio 1:33,333

35. Taonga
This is the Maori concept you will need to apply to the given
resources in the 1.4 exam and it is the same as your practice exam.
“A resource either physical or cultural that can be found in the
environment”
• Natural features could be lakes, rivers, mountains etc.
• Cultural features could be people, Te Reo, whakapapa etc.
The question could ask you to describe the Taonga, explain its
significance or say what is being done to protect certain Taonga

36. ANY
QUESTIONS?