A slow reveal graph is a teaching tool that starts with a numberless graph (or map, diagram, etc.) without labels. As the class notices and wonders about the graph, the teacher slowly reveals the original text and numbers until the class is looking at the complete original graph. The process allows students and teachers to focus on specific parts of the graph and do a close reading and analysis. For more information about slow reveal graphs, please visit Slow Reveal Graphs | CollectEdNY. For more graphs you can use in the classroom, please visit the CUNY data, graphs and maps collection.
New graphs are added to the collection weekly! –> Download
This collection of slow reveal graphs was originally created by Tim Berrigan, a NYSED Teacher Leader from the Brooklyn Public Library, to respond to the fact that mathematical reasoning is required on the Social Studies and Science sections of the GED. While working with slow reveal graphs, students practice the following skills: fact vs. opinion, evidence and conclusions, using data to make predictions, dependent and independent variables, correlation and causation, mean, median, mode, and range in statistics.
Read Tim’s brilliant article from the Adult Numeracy Network‘s Math Practitioner (Summer 2022 issue), where he explains how he uses slow reveal graphs in his classroom and why the routine is so effective – Slow Reveal Graphs: A Powerful Instructional Routine.
The collection continues to grow with additional slow reveals added by other adult education teachers. If you have a slow reveal that you would like to add to our collection, you can upload a Powerpoint or share a Google Slides link with us.
Current slow reveals available in our collection.
Science
Earth and Space Science
Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere
Change in Average Global Temperature
Change in Greenland Ice Sheet by Mass (2002-2017)
Changes in USA Precipitation between 1901 and 2016
Days at or above 90 degrees in NYC since 1960
Deadliest Weather Phenomenon in US
Living in the Desert
Mount Washington Monthly Temp and Snowfall
Urban Forest and Overall Area (NYC Boroughs)
Sources of Electricity in USA
Life Science
A food web
Carrying capacity
Bacterial Growth in Lab
Black Snail and Tan Snail Populations
Evolution of a Tetrapod
Experiment: Plant Growth
Hare-Lynx (Prey-Predator) Data
Number of Measles Cases Reported in the U.S. (1950-2021)
Number of Mice on Dark Volcanic Rock
Peppered Moth Populations
Percent of people receiving vaccines in the US
Reported paralytic polio cases and deaths, United States, 1910 to 2019
Species Extinction and Human Population Size
Varicella (chicken pox) hospitalization rates by age group (1993–2019)
Physical Science
Effect of Heat Energy on Motion of Molecules
Newton’s 2nd Law of Motion (Chart)
Salt Solubility at Various Temperatures
Social Studies
Speeding drivers involved in fatal crashes by alcohol involvement, 2020
Vehicle Speed Comparison to Change of Pedestrian Injury and Fatality
Civics & Government
Average presidential vetos per two year term of Congress
Average Voter Wait Times, US Presidential Election 2012
Diversity in Congress (updated 2023)
Diversity in Congress compared to American population
Drug Use vs Drug Arrests, 2013
Military Spending 2020 – International Comparison
Number of Mass Shootings & Their Victims in the United States, 1984-2022
Protest Surveys
Reasons for Not Voting, Nov. 2020
Refugees Admitted into US, 1980-2022
Sequence of Graphs Looking at Racism and the Perception of Protests
Survey: Do protests help? (Oct 1966)
U.S. Presidential Election Results, 2020
Voter Turnout by Age 1980-2012
Voter turnout by gender (1964-2016)
Voter turnout by race/ethnicity (1980-2020)
Economics
100 years after 19th Amendment, women and men poverty across racial and ethnic groups
NYC Budget Priorities: 2014-2019
Pay Stub slow reveal graph
Peppered Moth Populations in Manchester, England 1830-1839
Percent of Employed People in Unions, by Race (2000 & 2010)
Profit Per Minute of Top Tech Companies
Resources of the Union and Confederacy
Rise & Fall of Union Membership in the United States, 1917-2019
The Price of Bread & The Federal Minimum Wage (slow reveal)
Top Recipients of U.S. foreign aid since 2010
Unemployment rates in New York City and nationwide
Union Membership & Income Inequality
US Unemployment Rate (1975-2010)
US Unemployment Rate, 1927-1939
What goes into the price of gas
What we pay for in a gallon of gas
Geography
Refugees Admitted into US, 1980-2022
Share of the U.S. population that was born abroad
US Western Expansion
US History
100 years after 19th Amendment, women and men poverty across racial and ethnic groups
Ages of First Time Mothers – 1980 and 2016
Black Population of the United States 1790-1870
Causes of Childhood Deaths (1999 – 2020)
Impact of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
Life Expectancy by Race or Ethnicity, 2006-2021
Refugees Admitted into US, 1980-2022
Resources of the Union and Confederacy
Selected Presidential Vetoes (FDR to Obama)
Selected Presidential Vetoes (Washington to T. Roosevelt)
Sequence of Graphs Looking at Racism and the Perception of Protests
Share of the U.S. population that was born abroad
Survey: Do protests help? (Oct 1966)
Timeline of Confederate Monument and Statue Building
US Immigration, 1901 – 2000 (by number of immigrants)
US Unemployment Rate, 1927-1939
US Western Expansion
I just wanted to thank you guys for providing this incredible resource. This is the fifth time I’ve come back for a graph / chart, and to have an endless supply of solid material is priceless. Much gratitude and appreciation, and hoping you have been well!
The chart found in you “Species Extinction and Human Population Size” is inaccurate. The population of humans exploded after the 1800’s and your charts don’t acknowledge the massive affects the industrial revolution had on human birth rates. I hope this can be corrected so educators may educate properly.
Hi Richard,
Thank you for the feedback. The chart came from a New York State Regents test (https://www.nysedregents.org/LivingEnvironment/116/lenv12016-examw.pdf). If you have a suggestion for another chart that we could use instead, we would appreciate the help.
Eric