Birthday Graph

Our new school year is well underway. The first week, as we are getting to know each other, we do a graphing activity with the whole class. First we place the names of the months of the year in a row along the rug. Then we call out the months, one at a time, as the students sit behind the name of the month in which they were born. Once our "people graph" is complete, we ask the students questions based on our graph. Which month has the most birthdays? Which has the least? Is there a month with no birthdays? and so forth.

Next each child chooses a birthday cake picture to color in. These are labeled with the children's names and birthdates. Then each is placed above the correct month on a poster board chart. Now our birthday graph poster is prominently displayed in the classroom. The children refer to it on a regular basis to check on birthday's coming up and what cakes each child chose.