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Pictograms and tally charts

Interpret and construct simple pictograms, tally charts, block diagrams, and simple tables

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What a learner can do afterwards

  • Read a pictogram where each symbol represents one item
  • Construct a tally chart from collected data
  • Draw a block diagram to represent data from a survey

The lesson

You already know how to read a pictogram, where each little picture stands for one item. Now let's learn two more ways to show data: tally charts and block diagrams.

Each line is one item. After four lines, the fifth one crosses them to make a group of five. Here there are 8: three single lines, then one crossed group of five.
Try it together

Mia asked her class which fruit they liked best. She drew a tally mark for every answer, then counted the tallies and drew a block for each fruit. The tallest block shows apple was the favourite.

Apple4Banana2Grape3
Good to know

When you make a tally chart, count in fives. Draw four lines standing up, then draw the fifth line across them. A crossed group of five is easy to spot and count fast.

A tally chart counts with grouped marks, and a block diagram turns those counts into blocks you can compare at a glance.

Watch it

Where it sits

Where this leads

Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.

Then practise

8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.

Pictograms and tally charts · Mathematics, ages 6 to 8 · LightMySky