Second Grade · Math · week 29

Bar graphs from a home survey

Collect simple survey data at home and represent it in a scaled bar graph.

A bar graph uses bars instead of pictures -- the height of the bar shows the count. Just like a picture graph, check the scale on the side before reading any bar.

You can make your own bar graph by asking a simple survey question, like "what is your favorite fruit?", then drawing one bar for each answer choice.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Run a real 4-to-6-person survey at home -- favorite fruit, favorite season, number of pets -- real data is far more motivating than a worksheet.
  • Tally the raw answers first on scratch paper, then draw the bars -- separating counting from drawing avoids double mistakes.
  • Keep the scale at 1-per-step for their first graphs; scaled bars (2 or 5 per step) can be practiced reading, like in the Try section, before they draw one themselves.
  • Ask them to write one sentence describing what the finished graph shows, like a young scientist reporting results.
Talk about it:
  • What question did you ask in your survey, and what did you find out?
  • How is a bar graph similar to a picture graph? How is it different?
  • What does the tallest bar in your graph tell you?

Mastery looks like: They collect simple data, tally it accurately, and build a bar graph that correctly represents the counts.

Common stumbles: Drawing bars before finishing the tally, causing recount errors; drawing bar heights that do not match the scale.

Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Math for this learner.
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