Use egg cartons or ice cube trays for making concrete graphs of sorted groups of small objects, such as buttons or shells.
 

When lining up, have the children line up in two lines according to a sorting rule (wearing shoes with laces/without laces; curly/straight hair; wearing/not wearing a sweater). Have the children join hands with a partner from the other line. Ask, “How many don’t have partners? What does that tell us?”
 

Keep a graph to record the number of books by various authors read at circle time. Use the graph to identify favorite or frequently read authors.
 

Record the weather daily on a calendar, using symbols. At the end of the month (or two-week period), use the recorded information to make a picture graph of the weather.
 

Create a chart on large grid paper with each child’s name on it.  Each time a child serves as a class helper, he or she colors a square on the line beside his or her name.  At various times, have individual children observe and describe the chart.
 

Colour squares on larger grid paper to show the number of children absent each day. Encourage the children to observe the chart over a period of time. Ask, “How many are usually absent? What is the most that have been absent on a day? Are there any days when no children were absent?”
 

Have the children make a display to show the number of visitors the class gets per day over a period of time. Discuss the number of visitors and the reasons for a large number or none on certain days.
 

Place a clothespin graph in an accessible place. Provide a question on a removable card that the children can respond to by placing a clothespin on the “yes” or “no” side of the graph; for example, “Are you tired?” “Do you like T-ball?” “Did you wash your hands?”
 

From:  Interactions, Grade Primary, Unit 2: Making Sense of Data,  p. 68-69