Write a Data Story

In her book Five Creatures, Emily Jenkins describes a family of five (two cats and three people) by comparing things they have in common and things they do not. For example, "Five creatures live in our house. Three with orange hair, and two with gray. Two with long hair, three with short."

Ask individual students to create their own data story about their family. This is a great way to introduce young students to data visualization!

Assign the Five Creature Data activity to help them define the creatures (humans and pets) in their family. and identify traits they have in common and compare.

Five Creature Data Template

Students can use the New button to create a new blank project. Students should write a sentence and design an illustration to support it for each trait they are comparing.

Have students write a sentence for each trait and illustration to help the reader. A great way to introduce students to data visualization as well!

Bonus: This also makes a great get-to-know-you project for back-to-school or first collaborative work. Ask a small group or team to create a 5-creatures-style project about the attributes of the members of their team. As they do so they celebrate differences and find commonalities.