Questions to Consider How has the size of the monarch population changed during your lifetime? Describe the pattern you see in the graph. What information does the graph show? Based on the graph, in which year was the population the highest? The lowest? What is the average population size from 1994/1995 to the present? How does this year's population compare to the average size? Scientists look for trends. (A trend is a general direction in which something is moving.) What trends do you see in the data? Divide the data into two halves, the most recent years and the more distant years. Calculate the average again. Describe what you see. Do you think the monarch population is healthy based on this information? Why or why not? What other questions does this graph raise? Write "Discovery Statements" to summarize what you learned from this graph. Try This! The team who measures the monarch colonies every winter is led by Eduardo Rendon of the World Wildlife Fund-Mexico. You can read the original report (in Spanish) on the World Wildlife Fund-Mexico website.   This Season Teachers Kids Orientation Registration Search Copyright 1997-2009 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Questions or comments? Contact us.