4
Counting and making a graph
Learner’s Book 1: Unit 14, pp. 216–218
GoalCount a mixed set of objects, record the numbers in a table and draw a block graph.
New words
tally · a mark we make for each thing we countrecord · write down what we foundcolumn · a stack of blocks going up
Explanation
To make a block graph, first count each kind of thing; you can make a tally mark for each one. Then write each number in a table. Next, make one column for each kind. Colour one block for every object, starting from the bottom. Leave no gaps. Last, look at your graph: which column is tallest, and which is shortest? You can check by counting the blocks in each column. The number of blocks must be the same as the number you counted.
Worked examples
Count the food basket: 5 apples, 3 cherries and 4 carrots. We write these numbers in a table and make a column of 5, a column of 3 and a column of 4.
Look at the finished graph. Apple is the tallest column (5 blocks). Cherry is the shortest (3 blocks).
The graph shows 5 and 3 and 4. 5 and 3 make 8, and 4 more make 12 things in the basket.
Class activity
Window count: look out of a window for 5 minutes with a grown-up. Make a tally mark for every car, bike and bus you see. Then draw a block graph with one column for each. Which column is tallest?
Practice
1
Count each kind and say how many. Which kind is there most of?
bird 3, fish 5, star 2. Most: fish.
2
Ana counts 4 cars and 6 trees. How many blocks go in each column of her graph?
4 blocks for cars, 6 blocks for trees
3
A block graph has columns of 2, 5 and 3 blocks. How many things are there altogether?
10 (2 and 5 and 3)
4
Which kind has the fewest?
Forks (2 blocks)