Lesson Plan

• Describe why enhancing a graph improves readability and visual impact.
• Apply colour‑scheme changes and custom palettes to charts using spreadsheet software.
• Demonstrate how to add fill patterns for black‑and‑white printing.
• Extract (explode) a pie‑chart sector and emphasise it with colour or pattern.
• Evaluate a finished chart using a checklist to ensure consistency and clarity.

• Computer lab with spreadsheet software (Excel or Google Sheets)
• Projector and screen
• Sample data sets and pre‑created bar and pie charts
• Worksheet with step‑by‑step instructions
• Colour‑palette handout
• Chart‑finalisation checklist handout

Begin with a quick “What makes a chart stand out?” poll to activate prior knowledge. Explain that today’s success criteria are to modify a chart’s colours, apply fill patterns, and explode a pie slice for emphasis. Highlight the relevance of these skills for reports and presentations.

1. Do‑Now (5’) – Students examine two printed charts and note visual differences.
2. Mini‑lecture (10’) – Why enhance charts; overview of colour schemes, fill patterns, and exploding slices.
3. Demo (15’) – Teacher shows step‑by‑step colour‑scheme change and custom palette in Excel.
4. Guided Practice (15’) – Learners apply a new colour palette to a bar chart and add a fill pattern to one series.
5. Exploding a Pie Slice (10’) – Demonstration followed by individual practice on a sample pie chart.
6. Checklist Review (5’) – Pairs use the provided checklist to critique each other’s charts.
7. Whole‑class Share (5’) – Volunteers display improved charts and explain choices.

Recap the three enhancement techniques and ask students to verbalise one tip they will use next time. Exit ticket: write one improvement they made and one area still needing practice. Assign homework to redesign a chart from a recent subject lesson using today’s methods.