Collect and Organize Data
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Learning Objectives
- 1Record data using tally marks
- 2Read and interpret a completed tally chart
Mini Lesson
Data is information we collect by counting or measuring. One simple way to record data is with tally marks. Each tally mark represents one item. When we reach five, we draw a diagonal line across four vertical marks — this makes groups of 5 easy to count.
How to Draw Tally Marks
- Draw one vertical line for each item: | = 1, || = 2, ||| = 3, |||| = 4.
- For the fifth item, draw a diagonal line crossing the four vertical lines: |||| (crossed) = 5.
- Start a new group of 5 for the next item.
- Count total tallies by multiplying complete groups of 5 and adding any remaining marks.
Reading a Tally Chart
- A tally chart has columns: Category | Tally | Total.
- Count each group of 5 marks as 5, then add remaining marks.
- Apple: |||| || = 5 + 2 = 7. Banana: |||| = 4. Orange: |||| | = 5 + 1 = 6.
- Compare totals to find which category has the most or least.
Group your tally marks in sets of 5. It is much faster to count five-bundles than to count individual marks one by one.
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