← Back to Session 3

Session 3 Study Guide: Trends Over Time

Data Science for Young Minds — Grade 3

Key Topics

TopicDetails
Parts of a line graphParts of a line graph: x-axis (time), y-axis (measurement), data points, connecting line
Reading specific values at specific timeReading specific values at specific times
What the slope of the line tells youWhat the slope of the line tells you
PracticePractice: read 5 line graphs and answer questions
Increasing trendIncreasing trend: values generally going up over time
Decreasing trendDecreasing trend: values generally going down over time
Stable trendStable trend: values staying about the same
Describing trends in wordsDescribing trends in words: 'between 2020 and 2024, the data shows a steady increase...'
Using trends to predictUsing trends to predict: if it has been going up, it might continue
Why predictions are educated guesses, noWhy predictions are educated guesses, not guarantees
What can break a trendWhat can break a trend: unexpected events, seasonal changes, policy changes
ActivityActivity: predict next month's temperature based on a trend, then check
Trends in weatherTrends in weather: seasonal patterns, climate over years
Trends in personal growthTrends in personal growth: getting taller, learning more words, running faster
Trends in schoolTrends in school: grades over a semester, reading levels over a year
ActivityActivity: identify 3 trends in your own life and graph one of them

Lesson Summaries

Lesson 1: Reading Line Graphs

Learn the parts of a line graph and how to extract information from data shown over time.

Lesson 2: Spotting Trends

Learn to identify and describe three types of trends: increasing, decreasing, and stable.

Lesson 3: Making Predictions

Use trends to make reasonable predictions about what might happen next. But learn why predictions are not certainties.

Lesson 4: Trends Around You

Discover trends in your daily life — weather, growth, school performance, and the world around you.

Review Questions

  1. What do the axes of a line graph typically show?
  2. What does a steep line tell you?
  3. What do the dots on a line graph represent?
  4. Can a line graph show more than one thing?
  5. What is an increasing trend?
  6. What is a stable trend?
  7. Can a trend change direction?
  8. How do you describe a trend in words?
  9. How do you use a trend to make a prediction?
  10. Why are predictions not guarantees?
  11. What might break a trend?
  12. What is the difference between a prediction and a guess?
  13. What is a trend you experience every year?
  14. How can you find trends in your school performance?
  15. What is a personal trend you could track?
  16. Why is it useful to know your personal trends?