Bar Graphs
Bar graphs are one of the most common types of graph used to display data. Sometimes known as "column charts", bar graphs are most often used to show amounts or the number of times a value occurs.
The amounts are displayed using a vertical bar or rectangle. The taller the bar, the greater number of times the value occurs.
For example, for a school class you can use a bar graph to show and compare the number of students with different hair colors. The more students with a particular hair color, the taller the bar for that color will be in the graph.
Bar graphs make it easy to see the differences in the data being compared.
For more information, read the Excel Column Chart Tutorial or how to Create a Bar Graph in Excel 2003
This article is one of the "stops" on the Virtual Amazing Race, a lesson plan suitable for grades 5 and up. Students gather research in a webquest of around-the-world topics and (optionally) create a Web site Using PowerPoint.
