🔢 MathGrade 3Lesson 29
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Create Bar and Pictographs

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Read values from bar graphs and pictographs
  • 2Use a key to interpret pictograph data
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Mini Lesson

Bar graphs and pictographs are two ways to display data visually. A bar graph uses bars of different heights to show quantities. A pictograph uses symbols or pictures to represent data, with a key that tells you how many each symbol stands for.

Reading a Bar Graph

  • The y-axis (vertical) shows the scale — numbers from 0 upward.
  • Each bar represents a category. The height of the bar shows its value.
  • To read a value, follow the top of the bar across to the y-axis.
  • If a bar falls between two gridlines, estimate the value.

Reading a Pictograph

  • A pictograph uses symbols (circles, stars, etc.) to represent data.
  • The key tells you how many items each symbol represents.
  • If the key says 1 circle = 2 kids and there are 4 circles, the total is 4 x 2 = 8 kids.
  • Half a symbol represents half the key value.
Bar graph: Favorite FruitsA bar graph titled Favorite Fruits showing Apples at 8, Bananas at 5, Grapes at 3, and Oranges at 6 on a y-axis from 0 to 10.Favorite Fruits0246810ABGOA=Apples B=Bananas G=Grapes O=Oranges
Pictograph: Favorite SportsA pictograph showing favorite sports. Football has 4 circles, Swimming has 3, Tennis has 2, Running has 3. Each circle equals 2 kids.Favorite SportsFootballSwimmingTennisRunning= 2 kids
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Always read the key of a pictograph before counting. One symbol may represent 2, 5, or 10 items — not always 1.

Vocabulary
Bar graph
A chart that uses bars to show how much of each item there ise.g. A bar graph shows how many kids picked each fruit.
Pictograph
A chart that uses pictures to stand for amountse.g. A pictograph uses one apple to mean two people.
Scale
The numbers on the side of a graph that show the counte.g. The scale on this bar graph counts by 2s.
Key
A small note that tells what each picture meanse.g. The key says one cookie = 5 kids.
Title
A short name at the top of a graphe.g. The title says "Favorite Fruits".
Label
A word that names each part of a graphe.g. The labels under the bars are fruit names.
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← Lesson 28: Collect and Organize DataLesson 30: Interpret Tables and Charts →