📖 ReadingGrade 2Lesson 20
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Read Charts and Diagrams

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Read and understand bar charts, tally charts, and labeled diagrams
  • 2Use the title, labels, and key to find information quickly
  • 3Count tally marks by grouping them into fives
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Mini Lesson

Sometimes the most interesting information in a book is not in the words — it is in a chart or diagram! These visual tools help readers understand data quickly and clearly.

What is a bar chart?

  • A bar chart shows information using tall and short bars standing side by side. The taller the bar, the bigger the number it represents.
  • Always read the title first — it tells you what the chart is about.
  • The labels along the bottom name each bar. The numbers along the side show how many.

What is a tally chart?

  • A tally chart uses marks to count things. Each mark (|) stands for one.
  • Every fifth mark crosses the other four. Count tally groups by fives — then add any leftover marks.
  • Example: one full group of five plus two extra = 5 + 2 = 7.

What is a labeled diagram?

  • A diagram is a picture with label lines pointing to each part. Follow the line to find the name of that part.
  • Start with the title, then read each label. Ask: "What is this part? What does it do?"

How to read any chart or diagram

  • Step 1 — Read the title. It tells you the topic.
  • Step 2 — Read the labels along the sides or pointing to parts.
  • Step 3 — Look for a key — it explains what colors or symbols mean.
  • Step 4 — Ask yourself: "What is the biggest? The smallest? What do I notice?"
Sample bar chart: Favorite FruitA bar chart titled "Favorite Fruit" with three bars. The Apple bar reaches 8, Banana reaches 5, and Grape reaches 3. The y-axis runs from 0 to 10 and category labels appear along the bottom.Favorite Fruit025810AppleBananaGrapeCategory labels run along the bottom.
A bar chart titled "Favorite Fruit": Apple (8), Banana (5), Grape (3).
Labeled plant diagramA simple plant diagram with dashed label lines pointing from text labels to the flower, leaf, stem, and root of the plant. The title reads "Parts of a Plant."Parts of a Plantflowerleafstemroot
A labeled plant diagram: flower, leaf, stem, root.
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Ask yourself: "What is the title? What do the labels tell me? What is this chart or diagram showing me?"

Vocabulary
Chart
A picture that shows information (data) in a way that is easy to read and comparee.g. a bar chart of "Favorite Fruit" votes
Diagram
A picture with labels pointing to the parts of somethinge.g. a plant diagram labeling flower, leaf, stem, and root
Title
The name of the chart or diagram — it tells you what it is aboute.g. "Favorite Fruit" is the title of a bar chart
Label
A word that names a bar, a row, or a part of a diagrame.g. "Apple" and "Banana" are labels under bars
Tally
A small mark that stands for one; every fifth mark crosses the other foure.g. "|||| |" with a line through the first four = 6
Key
A small box that explains what colors or symbols in a chart meane.g. blue = boys, pink = girls
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← Lesson 19: Use Headings and Labels for DetailsLesson 21: Distinguish Facts and Opinions →