Create Bar Graphs and Tally Charts
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What you will learn
- 1Use tally marks to record data, grouping every fifth mark
- 2Read a tally chart
- 3State the total for each category
- 4Read a bar graph to find which category has the most or fewest responses
Mini Lesson
When we collect information about a group of things, we call it data. Two great ways to organize and show data are tally charts and bar graphs.
Tally marks
- Each tally mark stands for 1 item.
- After 4 marks, draw the 5th mark across the group — this makes a bundle of 5 that is easy to count quickly.
- To find the total, count the bundles of 5 first, then add the extras.
- Example: 4 marks crossed + 2 extras = 5 + 2 = 7.
Tally charts
- A tally chart has a category column (what you are counting) and a tally column (the marks).
- You can also add a total column to write the number.
- Ask a survey question and add one tally mark for each answer you hear.
Bar graphs
- A bar graph uses bars to show how many are in each category.
- The taller the bar, the more items in that category.
- Always check the title and the labels on the axes before reading.
- Compare bars to answer questions like "Which is most?" or "How many more?"
Words to know
Data
Information that has been collected
e.g. We collected data about favorite fruits.
Tally mark
A line that stands for one item
e.g. Each tally mark counts as one vote.
Tally chart
A chart with categories and tally marks
e.g. I made a tally chart of pets on our street.
Bar graph
A graph that uses bars to show how many
e.g. The tallest bar on the bar graph showed dogs.
Category
A group of things that are alike
e.g. Each fruit was its own category.
Total
The full count for a category
e.g. The total for dogs was 7.
Ask yourself: "What is the title? Which axis shows the numbers? Which bar is tallest — and which is shortest?"
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