Who Wants to Download a Free & Easy Donut Graph?

I feel like I got stuck inside of a donut box! A while ago, I went down a bunny trail littered with carrots. More recently, I found myself immersed in jelly beans. Sometimes I start with a single idea to create a themed activity. Then, my mind keeps expanding with more and more ideas… Have you ever been caught in a similar whirlwind?

About a month ago something on the internet about National Doughnut Day caught my eye. Wouldn’t it be fun to put together donut-themed activity boxes for the grandchildren? Hmmm… I should also bake some doughnuts because my husband’s birthday is on the same day this year. One thing led to another and then another…

Several years ago I wrote this blog post, 5 Tempting Ways to Celebrate National Doughnut Day, which includes a link for a free data collection and graphing activity using the letters in the word doughnut. This activity is ideal for first, second, and third graders. Since I only have one grandchild old enough for that activity, I just had to create a different one!

Here’s a free, easy to prepare donut graphing activity to help you celebrate National Doughnut Day, which falls on the first Friday in June. It’s a perfect way to focus on sorting, counting, graphing, and data interpretation with preschoolers, kindergarteners, first graders, and beginning second graders.

Choices to Make

Start by making a few simple choices.

• Select color or black/ white.
• Choose a ready to use set with a predetermined number of donuts to graph or create your own unique sets.
• Decide whether to glue the donut pictures on your graph or color the bar graph to match.

Get Your Donut Graphs Prepared

Really, this donut activity is easy to prepare!

• Print one copy of the graph and a set of donuts for each participant.
• Use paper to print the sets of donuts if you are gluing them on the graph.
• If you are coloring the bar graph to match, consider printing the donuts on card stock for easier handling by younger children.
• Print copies of the graph questions for more advanced or older children.
• Consider cutting the sets of donuts for young children. If you do, put each set in a baggie.
• Provide scissors, glue, and crayons.

Get Busy

Hand out the prepared materials. Have your students follow these steps.

• Cut your set of donuts (or empty your baggie).
• Sort your donuts by kind.
• Count how many donuts are in each group.
• Glue the donuts in the matching bars on your graph or
• Color the same number in the matching bar.
• Use your graph to answer the questions.

If you decide to create your own unique sets of donuts for the graph, you can either prepare them in advance or let your students create them. The graph questions are specific to the ready-made set of donuts. You can use them as a guide for asking oral questions with younger children.

Click on the highlighted words to download your free copy of the Delicious Donuts Graph.

Looking For More Donut Ideas and Resources…

I just added this resource, Donuts Galore Math Activities, to my TpT store. The activities are deliciously perfect for small instructional groups or as independent math centers in preschool and kindergarten. The focus is on numeral formation, numeral recognition 0-10, cardinality, counting (to 10, 20, 30, or 40), comparing quantities, and determining one less and one more than a given quantity or number. You’ll find a range of skills and a variety of activities to help you provide individualized instruction.

So what did I include in those donut fun boxes? Of course, I put in my free resources, Delicious Donuts Graph and It’s in the Bag Data Collection and Graphing, along with some of the activities from my Donuts Galore product. Then, I added a Donut Man craft, some donut erasers (aka counters), and a donut-themed book. I also included a donut pan along with several healthier baked donut recipes.

I had planned to bake my husband these Banana Chocolate Chip Baked Doughnuts (key ingredient) or Whole Grain Strawberry Donuts (Eat Good 4 Life) for his birthday breakfast. But, alas, the baking element in my oven literally burned up earlier this week! We just might have to visit the donut truck that parks in our community on Fridays.

What’s your favorite way to celebrate National Doughnut Day?

Photo in title image by Iryna Melnyk Photography.