Problem:

During which decade was growth the least in the Pacific Region and Why?

Computer Lab:

1. Have students use the student sheet, Pacific Growth to make spreadsheets in the lab.
2. Show students how to create a graph from their spreadsheet information. Help them decide which type of graph is best to display this data. (a line graph best shows how things change over time.)

Possible Spreadsheet Results:

Observations:

• Students should observe that in the decade 1910 to 1920 growth was the least.
• It could be because World War I prevented a lot of people from coming to the US.
• A lot of Americans went overseas during the war.
• Immigration laws prevented many people from coming to the US.

Notes on Making the Graph Above:


1. Highlight the information in the spreadsheet.
2. Pull down the Options menu and choose Make chart.
3. In the chart options dialog box click line graph.
4. On the left hand side under Modify click each of the buttons below and do the following:

Axes

• Type titles in the axes: X = Years and Y = Millions of People Click circle beside Y axis and click box beside grid lines With Y axis clicked type in boxes: minimum=0, maximum=35, step size=5

Series

• Unclick label data Click the symbol you want to show on the graph

Labels

• Click shadow on title
• Click legend to take out the x

General

• Click the word Columns
• Underneath Use numbers as labels in click the box beside first column.

To change the shape of the graph:

• Click the pointer tool and click somewhere in the center of the graph. You will see handles on each corner.
• Place your cursor on one of these handles and drag.

To move your graph on the paper:

• Click the pointer tool and click somewhere in the center of the graph. You will see handles on each corner.
• Click your cursor again in the middle, hold down and drag the graph to a new location.