Mathematics
Intermediate
50 mins
Teacher/Student led
+65 XP
Teacher-led from the board. Pupils do not need a device, but can follow on one.
What you need:
IWB/Projector/Large Screen

Pictograms, One Symbol Means One

Build and read pictograms where one symbol represents one item. Learn to line rows up fairly so you can compare totals and find differences between categories.

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    Pictogram builder
    Pictogram builder

    1 - Getting Started ~4 mins

    Illustration for Getting StartedLook at this tally of our class's favourite school lunch, and look at this one apple picture beside it. If one apple picture means one pupil, how many apple pictures will the most popular lunch need?

    Tip

    Have a guess before we count.

    2 - Watch and Notice ~9 mins

    Look at this pictogram. Each picture stands for exactly one pupil, so a longer row means more pupils chose it.

    1. How many pupils chose Sandwich? Count the pictures.
    2. Which row is the longest? What does that tell you?
    3. Nobody chose Salad. Why does the Salad row still need its label?
    4. Run your finger along the start of each row. Why must every row start at the same line?

    3 - Try It Together ~14 mins

    Let's build a pictogram from our own class data. One picture means one pupil.

    1. Take a vote. Our question: What would you most like to do at yard time? Tag, skipping or football? Hands up for each, and count the hands.
    2. Build it. Add one picture for each pupil who voted, one row at a time, starting every row at the same line.
    3. Check it. Count the pictures in each row and match it to the number of hands.
    Key point

    We will check each row by counting the pictures and matching them to the number that voted.

    Build our class pictogram

    4 - Draw the Key in Your Copy ~3 mins

    COPYBOOK MOMENT

    In your maths copy, draw a simple symbol key at the top: one picture, then = 1 pupil. Choose any easy picture to draw, like a small circle or a smiley face.

    Then draw the rows for two categories from our class data, using that same picture. Keep both rows starting from the same line.

    5 - Class Challenge ~10 mins

    Now let's read some pictograms together. Each picture still means one pupil. For each chart I'll ask you something different: how many are in a row, which row has the most, how many there are altogether, and how many more one row has than another. You answer by building the Your answer row at the bottom of the chart.

    Watch out

    Before you compare two rows, check that both rows start at the same line.

    Read the pictograms

    Pupil practice
    Module 9 · Data and Chance Data & Chance
    Lesson 103 · Pictograms, One Symbol Means One
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