Picture This! Making Graphs with Pictures and Bars

Math Grades 1st Grade 4:57 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn how to create and read simple graphs using pictures and bars to show information.

Video Resource

Creating picture and bar graphs 2 exercise examples | 3rd grade | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Duration: 4:57
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Data representation
  • Bar graphs
  • Picture graphs (pictographs)

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to create a bar graph from given data.
  • Students will be able to create a picture graph from given data.
  • Students will be able to interpret information presented in bar and picture graphs.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they already know about graphs. Show them examples of different types of graphs (e.g., from newspapers or books). Explain that graphs help us understand information quickly.
  • Video Viewing (10 mins)
    Watch the Khan Academy video 'Creating picture and bar graphs 2 exercise examples | 3rd grade | Khan Academy'. Pause at key points to explain the concepts and ask clarifying questions.
  • Bar Graph Activity (10 mins)
    Provide students with a simple data set (e.g., favorite colors of the class). Guide them to create a bar graph representing the data on a worksheet or using manipulatives (e.g., blocks or counters).
  • Picture Graph Activity (10 mins)
    Provide students with another simple data set (e.g., favorite animals). This time, guide them to create a picture graph, where each picture represents one or more items. Emphasize the importance of a key (e.g., each smiley face = 2 votes).
  • Wrap-up and Discussion (5 mins)
    Review the key concepts and learning objectives. Ask students to share what they learned and how they can use graphs in their daily lives.

Interactive Exercises

  • Class Graphing
    As a class, choose a topic (e.g., favorite fruit, number of siblings). Collect data from each student and create a large bar graph or picture graph on the board. Discuss the results and answer questions about the data.
  • Worksheet Practice
    Provide students with worksheets containing pre-made bar and picture graphs. Ask them to answer questions about the information presented in the graphs (e.g., 'Which fruit is the most popular?', 'How many more students like apples than bananas?').

Discussion Questions

  • What is a graph?
  • Why are graphs useful?
  • What is the difference between a bar graph and a picture graph?

Skills Developed

  • Data interpretation
  • Graph creation
  • Problem-solving

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What is a graph?

Correct Answer: A way to show information

Question 2:

What does a bar graph use to show information?

Correct Answer: Bars

Question 3:

What does a picture graph use to show information?

Correct Answer: Pictures

Question 4:

If each smiley face in a picture graph means 2 votes, how many votes do 3 smiley faces mean?

Correct Answer: 6

Question 5:

Which graph helps us see information quickly?

Correct Answer: A graph

Question 6:

If a bar graph shows that 5 kids like apples and 3 kids like bananas, which fruit do more kids like?

Correct Answer: Apples

Question 7:

What is something we can make a graph about?

Correct Answer: All of the above

Question 8:

What do we need to make a picture graph?

Correct Answer: A key to tell us what each picture means

Question 9:

What is the tallest bar on a bar graph show?

Correct Answer: The most

Question 10:

When we put information into a graph, what are we doing?

Correct Answer: Showing data

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

Graphs help us understand ________ quickly.

Correct Answer: information

Question 2:

A bar graph uses _______ to show information.

Correct Answer: bars

Question 3:

A picture graph uses ________ to show information.

Correct Answer: pictures

Question 4:

Each picture in a picture graph can stand for a ________ of things.

Correct Answer: number

Question 5:

A ________ tells us what each picture means in a picture graph.

Correct Answer: key

Question 6:

The tallest bar on a bar graph shows the ______.

Correct Answer: most

Question 7:

The shortest bar on a bar graph shows the ________.

Correct Answer: least

Question 8:

We can make a graph about our favorite _______.

Correct Answer: colors

Question 9:

Putting information into a graph is called showing ______.

Correct Answer: data

Question 10:

Graphs help us _________ information better.

Correct Answer: organize

Educational Standards

1.MD.C.4:Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another.

Teaching Materials

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