Teaching Students to Explain Graphs | Science Staff PL/CPD Toolkit

Do your students draw beautiful graphs… but then write the conclusion as “the line goes up”?

Many pupils can plot data accurately but struggle to interpret what the graph actually shows or explain the science behind the pattern.

This Science Staff CPD Toolkit helps departments improve literacy through numeracy by supporting teachers to develop stronger graph analysis and scientific explanation in lessons.

The resources focus on helping students move beyond simply drawing graphs to interpreting data and explaining results scientifically.

The pack introduces clear frameworks that teachers can use when planning and modelling graph work:

SALUTE – Accurate Graph Construction

Scale
Axis
Label
Units
Title
Explain the pattern

Scientific Graph Conclusions

Trend → Data → Science → Evaluation

Together these frameworks help students structure their thinking so they can describe patterns, reference data and explain results using scientific knowledge.

This CPD pack includes

✔ Staff professional learning presentation
✔ Staffroom infographic poster for planning and teaching
✔ Graph analysis frameworks for teachers
✔ WAGOLL examples of scientific graph conclusions
✔ Guidance for embedding literacy through numeracy in science

Ideal for

• Science department CPD
• Literacy through numeracy initiatives
• Improving scientific writing
• Teaching graph analysis and data interpretation
• Supporting practical investigations

This resource is perfect for departments aiming to ensure that every graph leads to meaningful scientific explanation rather than simple description.

Because in science… a graph is not finished until the conclusion explains what the data shows.