Intermediate
60 mins
Teacher/Student led
+80 XP
Pupils work on their own device

Your First Pie Chart

Learn when a pie chart is suitable for displaying parts of a whole budget. Build a category totals table from item rows, create the pie chart with percentages, arrange slices properly, and save it in your charts workbook.

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    1 - Introduction ~5 mins

    Today you will

    • add up your costs into category totals
    • make a pie chart with percentages on it
    • add the pie to {{code:06_ka2_charts}}, beside your bar chart

    Warm-up

    Illustration for IntroductionThink about the budget for your Something Real project. If you split it into groups like materials, travel and promo, which group would take the biggest slice?

    2 - Key Concepts ~6 mins

    A pie chart is a circle cut into slices that show parts of a whole.

    Parts of a whole means every slice comes from one total, so they add up to 100%.

    A category total is one group's costs added up. You chart these, not every item.

    Percentage labels show each slice's share, like 11%.

    Use a bar chart instead if you would have over 6 slices or negative numbers.

    Example

    Aoife's cupcake stall has three ingredient costs: €40, €30 and €15. Together they make one Ingredients slice of €85.

    3 - Step-by-step Task ~15 mins

    You will turn Aoife's cupcake budget into a pie chart, in a new practice file. Watch your teacher first, then follow the steps in the box below.

    Item list (E1 to G9)

    CategoryItemCost (€)
    IngredientsFlour and sugar40
    IngredientsButter and eggs30
    IngredientsToppings15
    PackagingBoxes18
    PackagingLabels10
    EquipmentMixer hire45
    MarketingFlyers20
    TransportVan fuel12

    Category totals (H1 to I6)

    CategoryTotal (€)
    Ingredients85
    Packaging28
    Equipment45
    Marketing20
    Transport12

    If you sort the totals, the order will be Ingredients, Equipment, Packaging, Marketing, Transport.

    4 - Common Issues ~4 mins

    Common issues

    • Lots of tiny slices? You charted the item rows. Select only the totals table and insert the pie again.
    • Wrong numbers or a blank slice? Select just the category rows and headings, with no empty or Total rows. Then make a new chart.
    • Can't find percentages? In Excel, click {{btn:+}} and turn on Data Labels. In Sheets, open {{btn:Customise}}, then {{btn:Pie chart}}, then Slice label.

    5 - Independent Practice ~20 mins

    Independent Practice

    Your goal: Add a pie chart of your own Something Real budget to {{code:06_ka2_charts}}.
    Time: ~20 minutes
    Task:
    1. Open {{code:06_ka2_charts}} in {{code:Project_Portfolio}}, in the {{code:06_charts}} folder.
    2. Group your budget items into 3 to 6 categories.
    3. Add up each category and type a table with Category and Total columns.
    4. Select only that table and insert a pie chart.
    5. Turn on percentage labels and type a short, clear title.

    If a category is tiny, add it into a group called Other.

    Success criteria:
    • My totals table has 3 to 6 categories.
    • My pie shows a percentage on each slice.
    • It has a short, clear title.
    • It's saved in {{code:06_ka2_charts}} next to my bar chart.
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