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Open the worksheet containing the M&M’s data.
Under the View menu, select Toolbars...
and be sure the Chart toolbar
is selected for viewing.
NOTE: This
activity would best be done with two students working together at one
computer.
Part 1: Graphing Individual
Data
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In the last activity, you made an object graph
with the M&M’s and analyzed the data numerically (totals,
measures of central tendency, and percents).
What other types of graphs would provide a visual
representation that would help in the analysis of the data?
Note: Excel calls
a vertical bar graph a column graph.
To
make a column graph:
- Highlight the cells containing the labels (in
this case the color names) and the cells containing the data
to be graphed.
To select non-adjacent cells:
- Select the first series of desired cells, then
while holding down the COMMAND (MAC) or CTRL (PC) key,
highlight the non-adjacent cells.
- Click
on the ChartWizard then click in the spreadsheet at the point where you
want your graph to appear.
The first pop-up window shows all the different types
of graphs that Excel can create.
Choose the Column icon and click on Next..
- In the next pop-up window, verify the cell range
reference for the data you have selected. If this is correct,
click Next.
- In the final step, give the graph a title and
click on Finish.
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How does this column graph compare with the
object graph you made in the first activity?
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Excel uses a default color for the columns in
your graph. You
can, however, change the colors of the columns to match the
colors of the M&M’s.
To
change the colors in a graph:
- Double-click on the chart in order to edit it.
- Double-click on the
first column in your chart (until only that column is selected).
- Select the Patterns
tab and select the appropriate color.
- Repeat this process
for each column.
SHORTCUT:
Once the chart is selected for editing, only do a single-click on
the column you want to change.
Once that column is selected, use the Color
Bucket button on the toolbar to choose the desired color.
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Your partner should follow the same steps above
to create a column graph of his or her individual data.
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How does your graph compare to your partner’s
graph? Do you notice any
similarities or significant differences?
Explain.
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Did you have any difficulties in comparing the
data on two separate graphs? What
if you had 3 or 4 graphs to compare?
Create a new column graph with your and your partner’s data
on the same graph . (Hint:
You will need to select the information in columns A through G
in the appropriate rows. To select non-adjacent cells in Excel, hold
down the CTRL key while selecting the cells.)
Part
2: Graphing Individual and Class Data
To adjust a graph
to include more data:
- Double-click on the
chart in order to edit it.
- Under the Chart
menu,
choose Add Data…
- Once the pop-up menu
appears, use the mouse to select the cells containing the data
you want to add. The cell references will be copied in the Range
input box. Click OK.
- On the next screen,
be sure to select the option for the new data to be a new series.
Then click OK.
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Another student, Larry, came late into class.
His data needs to be added to the worksheet.
He has 3 blue, 15 brown, 9 green, 6 orange, 13 red, and 18
yellow M&M’s. Add his data to the worksheet and observe your graph
containing your, your partner’s, and the mean data .
Part
3: Using Pie Graphs to Display Data
To change the chart
type of a graph:
- Double-click on the
duplicated chart to edit it. Click on the
down
arrow next to the
icon (far left of Chart toolbar). Then select the type of chart
you wish. (For this graph, choose the pie chart icon
 .)
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Select the chart area and then format it so that
each slice of pie is labeled as a percent. (Hint: when you
double-click on the pie graph, choose the Data Labels tab in the
pop-up window.)
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Have your partner repeat the steps above to make
a pie chart of their data.
Extension:
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Does the class data reflect the average
distribution of colors from the manufacturer?
In order to explore this question, we need to first create a
pie graph for the class totals. Your graph should display the
percentages. The
manufacturer reports the average percentages on the M&M’s home
page (
http://www.m-ms.com/us/about/products/milkchocolate.jsp ).
Visit the M&M’s home page and compare the
class data with the percentages reported by the manufacturer.
Does our class data “fit” the percentages reported by the
Mars company? If not,
what could account for the differences?
Copy and paste the image of the pie chart on the Web and insert
it into the spreadsheet for direct comparison.
Students could write a report, create a poster, or create a
Power Point slide show to discuss how the class data results compare
with the expected distribution reported by the Mars company.
CHALLENGE: Excel
can use pictures in column graphs to make “pictographs.”
Go back to the column graph of your individual data.
Figure out how to change the columns to look like round
M&M’s. (Hint: Use the
draw program
 to create a colored circle, then copy and paste
into the appropriate column. The
pictures can then be scaled and stacked.)
What is the benefit of creating a pictogram instead of using
solid columns?
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