Draw six vertical columns along a piece of butcher paper. Across the top of the butcher paper, draw a horizontal line. The horizontal line will intersect with the tops of the vertical lines, creating six small boxes at the top of the paper.
Write the names of colors in each of the six boxes; red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Hang the butcher paper on the board in your classroom.
Point children's attention to the paper and ask them what they notice about the paper (different colors). Inform children that they are going to use the paper to learn what is the favorite color of most students in the class.
Distribute an index card to each child. Instruct children to select a marker that matches their favorite color. Have them draw and color in a colored circle on their index cards.
Collect the index cards. Glue each index card in the column underneath the color words they correspond to. For instance, blue cards should be glued in the blue column, green cards in the green column and so forth, creating a rudimentary bar graph.
Ask students to observe the graph and deduce which color is the favorite of most people in the class. Ask children how they arrived at that conclusion. If students appear confused, ask them to count each colored circle. Remind them that the most colored circles on the graph illustrates the color that is liked the most.
Explain the concept of graphs to students. Inform students that graphs are a quick way to analyze data; without having to ask every student what her favorite color is, the answer can be attained by simply looking at the graph.