Level 2: Tallies and bar graphs

Statistics and data · level 2 of 8 · rough age 7-8 (a guide for parents; anyone can start anywhere)

In level 1 you sorted, counted and made picture graphs with one sticker for each child. In this level you count faster with tally marks, keep the counts in tables whose totals check themselves, and draw the graphs that grown-ups use every day: bar graphs with a proper scale, pictographs where one picture stands for many, and line plots for numbers. The level ends with what makes a survey question fair, so that the data tell the truth.

Lesson	You will be able to
Tally marks	Keep several counts at once with tallies in bundles of five, read a tally fast by fives, and make a tally chart
Tables with totals	Turn tallies into a table, add a column quickly, use the total to catch mistakes, and do the corner check in a two-way table
Bar graphs	Draw and read a bar graph with title, axes, labels and a scale by 1s, 2s or 5s, and explain why bars start at zero
Pictographs with a key	Read and make pictographs where one picture stands for 2, 5 or 10, use half pictures, and choose a key that fits
Line plots	Draw a line plot of measured numbers and find the most common value, gaps, clusters and outliers
Good survey questions	Write survey questions about one thing, with clear words, choices that do not overlap, and no pushing

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