1 - Introduction ~5 mins
Welcome
Today you will put one Irish sample dataset into different chart types, decide which views tell the truth, and build one new chart from your Something Real numbers (or a ready mini-dataset that fits your project).
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Choose column, line, scatter, or combination charts for a given data type
- Judge which chart informs and which misleads for the same dataset
- Create one chart type that is new to you from project or public data
Warm-up
Think of one number from your Something Real project that changes over time (views per week, cost per month, hours logged, points per match). Would a pie chart help someone see that change, or would it hide the story?
2 - Key Concepts ~6 mins
Use this table when you pick a chart. The right chart makes a decision easier. The wrong chart can make tidy data look convincing while still being misleading.
| Concept | Why it matters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Column chart — vertical bars comparing amounts across categories | Best when you want side-by-side comparison of separate groups, not a smooth time story | Monthly rainfall (mm) for Cork sample months: each month is a category to compare |
| Line chart — points joined in order, usually over time | Best for trends: up, down, seasonal shape, or sudden spikes a reader should notice | Average max temperature (°C) from January to June on one continuous line |
| Scatter chart — each row is one point from two number columns | Tests whether two measures move together; good for “is there a relationship?” questions | Plot temperature against rainfall for the same months to see if wetter months look cooler |
| Combination view — a trend and a set of amounts on one page (combo chart, or column + line side by side) | Useful when one measure is a trend and another is amounts you still want together | Temperature as a line and rainfall as columns for the same six months |
| Chart honesty — choosing a type that matches the question, not the flashiest look | A pretty chart that answers the wrong question still misleads a coach, sponsor, or examiner | A pie of six monthly temperatures hides the seasonal rise a line would show clearly |
Worked sample dataset (use this in the step-by-step)
Pedagogical sample for chart practice (Irish climate-style figures for teaching, not a live Met Éireann download):
| Month | Avg max temp (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | 90 |
| Feb | 8 | 70 |
| Mar | 10 | 65 |
| Apr | 12 | 55 |
| May | 15 | 60 |
| Jun | 18 | 65 |
Later critique (after charts exist): Which chart best shows the temperature rise into summer? Which best compares wet months? Which asks whether temp and rain move together? Why would a pie chart of temperature be a poor choice here?
3 - Step-by-step Task ~20 mins
Build one demo workbook from the sample weather table. Your teacher leads column and line as a quick shared build. You then build scatter yourself and a combination view (real Combo chart in Google Sheets; paired column + line on one sheet in Excel for the web). Finish with a short class critique and a 2-minute match of chart-to-job.
If scatter or the combination view goes wrong, check the stuck tips your teacher has on the board (wrong columns selected, Combo missing in Excel for the web, flat temperature line needing a right axis in Sheets).
4 - Independent Practice ~15 mins
Independent Practice
Pick the type (60-second guide): change over time → line; category amounts → column; two numbers’ relationship → scatter; trend + amounts together → combination view.
Worked mini example (teacher may show once): Week | Views | Hours → “I pick line for views over weeks because I need change over time.” Hours vs views on the same weeks could be scatter; posts as columns with views as a line is a combination view.
Ready mini-datasets (copy one if it fits your project question; rename the sheet with your project name):
1) Club training: Week 1–6 | Hours trained 3,4,5,4,6,5 | Match points 2,5,3,8,6,7
2) Content or club social: Week 1–6 | Posts 2,3,2,4,3,5 | Total views 120,180,150,260,210,300
3) Small event budget check: Item (Venue, Food, Print, Travel, Prizes, Misc) | Budget € 200,150,40,60,80,30 | Actual € 220,140,35,70,75,25
If your project numbers are not ready: use a small public extract that answers your project question (for example match-day attendance and takings for a fixture plan) and label the sheet {{code:Public_data_for_[project]}}. Last-resort fallback (teacher sign-off only): copy two columns from the demo weather table into {{code:sm3_advanced_chart}}, add one sentence linking the chart to your project question, and note on the sheet {{code:Fallback_sample_teacher_approved}}.
- {{code:sm3_advanced_chart}} is saved inside {{code:09_specialism/sm3}}
- The sheet holds project data, a clearly relevant public extract, or a teacher-approved fallback, with headings and at least five data rows
- One line, scatter, or combination view is present (beyond a simple bar or pie only)
- The chart title makes the pattern or comparison obvious to a non-technical reader
- One sentence under the chart names the decision it supports (and what it cannot decide, if you have time)
5 - Reflection ~5 mins
Think about
- Which of today’s chart types best fits a question your Something Real project actually needs answered, and why?
- Where could a flashy chart still mislead a coach, sponsor, supervisor, or examiner even if the numbers were correct?
Discuss one answer with a partner or as a class if your teacher calls a short share-back.
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