Categorical Data Displays
Tally the Stars and Hearts
Count each type of object. Make a tally mark for each one you see.
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Stars | ||
Hearts | ||
Flowers |
Tally the Fruit
Count the fruit in each group. Write tally marks to show how many.
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Apples | ||
Bananas | ||
Grapes |
Tally the Animals
How many of each animal can you see? Use tally marks to count them.
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Cats | ||
Dogs | ||
Birds |
Tally the Shapes
Count the shapes. Remember, a tally of 5 is four lines with a diagonal line through them!
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Circles | ||
Squares | ||
Triangles |
Count and Record
Count how many objects are in each row. Write the number in the box.
Count the Toys
Count each type of toy carefully. Write the total next to each row.
Tally Our Favourite Things
Some children chose their favourite thing. Count the tally marks for each one.
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Sun | ||
Moon | ||
Stars | ||
Flowers |
Tally the Classroom Objects
Count each type of object your teacher has put on the table. Make tally marks.
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Pencils | ||
Books | ||
Cups | ||
Spoons |
Favourite Fruit Picture Graph
Look at the picture graph. Each picture stands for 1 child's vote. Answer the questions.
| Apples | |
| Bananas | |
| Grapes |
Which fruit got the most votes?
Which fruit got the fewest votes?
How many children voted altogether?
Favourite Animal Picture Graph
This picture graph shows which animals children like best. Answer the questions.
| Cats | |
| Dogs | |
| Birds | |
| Fish |
Which animal is the most popular?
Which animal is the least popular?
How many children chose cats or dogs?
How many children voted altogether?
Favourite Colour Picture Graph
Each picture shows one child's favourite colour. Read the graph and answer below.
| Red hearts | |
| Yellow stars | |
| Blue diamonds | |
| Green trees |
Which colour is the most popular?
Which colour is the least popular?
How many children chose red or blue?
Reading the Fruit Graph
Use the picture graph of favourite fruits to circle the correct answer.
How many children chose apples?
Which fruit had 3 votes?
How many children voted altogether?
Reading the Animal Graph
Look at the picture graph of favourite animals. Circle the right answer for each question.
How many more cats than birds?
How many children chose fish?
Which animal had 4 votes?
How many children voted in total?
Shapes We Found
We looked around the classroom and found these shapes. Read the graph and answer the questions.
| Circles | |
| Squares | |
| Triangles |
Which shape did we find the most?
Which shape did we find the least?
How many shapes did we find altogether?
Toys in the Toy Box
We sorted the toys. Each picture shows 1 toy. Answer the questions.
| Balls | |
| Teddies | |
| Cars | |
| Books |
Which toy do we have the most of?
Which toy do we have the least of?
How many balls and teddies altogether?
How many more cars than books?
Favourite Ice Cream Flavours
These children told us their favourite ice cream. Make a tally chart: chocolate (5), vanilla (3), strawberry (6), mint (2).
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Chocolate | ||
Vanilla | ||
Strawberry | ||
Mint |
Favourite Sports
Ask your friends their favourite sport and make tally marks as they answer.
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Soccer | ||
Swimming | ||
Running | ||
Cycling |
How We Get to School
Record how each child gets to school. One tally mark for each child.
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Walk | ||
Car | ||
Bus | ||
Bike |
Pets at Home
We asked our class what pets they have at home. Make a tally for each answer.
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Dogs | ||
Cats | ||
Fish | ||
Birds |
Favourite Drinks
Tally each child's favourite drink. Remember to cross at 5!
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Water | ||
Juice | ||
Milk |
Make Your Own Tally Chart
Choose a question to ask 5 friends. Record their answers as tally marks.
What question will you ask?
Write each friend's name and answer:
Now draw a tally chart in the box below:
Sort the Animals and Fruit
Sort these items into two groups: Animals and Fruit. Then count how many are in each group.
Sort the Shapes
Sort these shapes into groups. Count how many of each shape there are.
Sort Living and Non-Living
Sort these into Living Things and Non-Living Things. How many are in each group?
Sort into Three Groups
Sort these items into three groups: Animals, Fruit, and Things in a House.
Sort by Where You Find Them
Sort these into things you find Outdoors and things you find Indoors.
Match the Tally to the Number
Draw a line from each tally to the correct number.
Match the Category to Its Count
We counted animals at the farm. Match each animal to the number we counted.
Match the Graph Question to the Answer
Match each question about our favourite fruit graph to the correct answer.
Favourite Pets — Compare
Look at the picture graph and answer questions about comparing the data.
| Dogs | |
| Cats | |
| Fish | |
| Birds |
How many more dogs than cats?
How many fewer fish than dogs?
How many pets altogether?
Which two pets together make 8?
Compare: Favourite Fruits
We asked 20 children about their favourite fruit: apples (7), bananas (4), grapes (6), watermelons (3). Circle the correct answer.
Which fruit was the most popular?
How many more apples than watermelons?
How many children chose bananas or grapes?
Which fruit was chosen by the fewest children?
Compare: Favourite Colours
A class voted on favourite colours: red (6), blue (8), green (4), yellow (2). Circle the correct answer.
Which colour was most popular?
How many more blue than yellow?
How many children chose red or green?
How many children voted altogether?
Favourite Sports — Compare
Read the picture graph about favourite sports and answer the comparison questions.
| Soccer | |
| Swimming | |
| Running | |
| Tennis |
Which sport is the most popular?
How many more children chose soccer than running?
How many fewer children chose running than tennis?
How many children chose swimming or tennis?
How many children were asked altogether?
More, Less, or Equal?
Our class has: 5 dogs, 5 cats, 3 birds, 7 fish. Circle the correct answer.
Do we have more dogs or cats?
Which pet do we have the fewest of?
How many more fish than birds?
How many pets altogether?
Snack Time — Compare
We counted snacks in the lunchbox. Look at the graph and answer the questions.
| Apples | |
| Bananas | |
| Grapes | |
| Watermelons |
Which snack appears the most?
Which snack appears the least?
How many more bananas than watermelons?
How many pieces of fruit altogether?
Tally and Compare — Favourite Seasons
Make tally marks for each season. Then answer: Which season is most popular? Which is least popular?
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Summer | ||
Autumn | ||
Winter | ||
Spring |
Playground Activities
We watched what children played at lunch. Read the graph and answer all the questions.
| Swings | |
| Slide | |
| Sandpit | |
| Climbing | |
| Ball games |
Which activity was the most popular?
Which activity was the least popular?
How many more children played ball games than sandpit?
How many children played swings or slide?
How many children were at the playground altogether?
Our Garden Bugs
We counted bugs in the garden. Study the picture graph and answer the questions.
| Butterflies | |
| Birds | |
| Cats | |
| Fish in pond |
How many creatures did we find altogether?
Which creature did we see the most?
How many more fish than cats?
If 2 more butterflies came, how many butterflies would there be?
Lunchbox Data Questions
A class recorded their lunchbox items: sandwiches (9), fruit (7), yoghurt (4), crackers (5). Circle the correct answer.
How many more sandwiches than yoghurt?
How many items altogether?
If 3 more children brought fruit, how many would that be?
Which two items together equal 9?
Favourite Drinks
Read the picture graph about what children like to drink. Answer the questions below.
| Water | |
| Juice | |
| Milk | |
| Hot chocolate |
Which drink is the most popular?
How many more children chose water than hot chocolate?
How many children chose juice or milk?
How many children were surveyed altogether?
Which two drinks together have the same number as water?
Favourite Shapes
Children picked their favourite shape. Read the graph carefully.
| Circle | |
| Square | |
| Triangle | |
| Diamond | |
| Star |
Which shape is the most popular?
Which shape is the least popular?
How many more stars than diamonds?
How many children chose circles or triangles?
How many children voted altogether?
Transport Survey Questions
We asked 24 children how they get to school: walk (8), car (7), bus (5), bike (4). Circle the correct answer.
How do most children get to school?
How many children travel by car or bus?
How many more children walk than ride a bike?
How many children were surveyed?
Favourite Ice Cream — Tally First
Our class picked their favourite ice cream flavour. Make tally marks to record the data.
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Chocolate | ||
Vanilla | ||
Strawberry | ||
Mint |
Favourite Ice Cream — Picture Graph
Now use the same data to make a picture graph. Draw one picture for each vote.
| Chocolate | |
| Vanilla | |
| Strawberry | |
| Mint |
Which flavour is the most popular?
Which flavour is the least popular?
How many more children chose chocolate than mint?
How many children chose vanilla or strawberry?
Weather This Week — Tally Chart
We recorded the weather each day for 4 weeks. Make a tally chart.
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Sunny | ||
Cloudy | ||
Rainy | ||
Windy |
Weather This Week — Picture Graph
Use the weather tally chart above to create a picture graph. Answer the questions.
| Sunny | |
| Cloudy | |
| Rainy | |
| Windy |
What was the most common weather?
How many more sunny days than rainy days?
How many days were recorded altogether?
Were there more cloudy days or windy days?
Weather Data Questions
Use the weather data (sunny 10, cloudy 6, rainy 3, windy 5) to circle the correct answer.
How many days of weather were recorded?
How many more sunny days than windy days?
Which two types together equal 11?
Books We Read This Month
Record how many books each child read this month using tally marks.
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Picture books | ||
Story books | ||
Fact books | ||
Comic books |
Books We Read — Picture Graph
Turn the tally chart into a picture graph. Answer the questions.
| Picture books | |
| Story books | |
| Fact books | |
| Comic books |
Which type of book was read the most?
How many more picture books than fact books?
How many books were read altogether?
Which two types together make 13?
Farm Animals
Farmer Jane counted her animals. Read the graph and answer the questions.
| Cows | |
| Chickens | |
| Horses | |
| Pigs |
Which animal does Farmer Jane have the most of?
How many more chickens than horses?
How many cows and pigs altogether?
How many animals does Farmer Jane have in total?
Favourite Breakfast Foods
We asked children what they had for breakfast. Tally the results.
| Item | Tally | Total |
|---|---|---|
Toast | ||
Cereal | ||
Fruit | ||
Eggs |
Breakfast Data Questions
Use the breakfast data (toast 7, cereal 9, fruit 5, eggs 4) to answer these questions.
What was the most popular breakfast?
How many children had toast or eggs?
How many fewer children had eggs than cereal?
How many children were surveyed?
Conduct a Colour Survey
Survey 5 people: 'What is your favourite colour?' Write their answers and make a tally chart.
Write each person's name and their favourite colour:
Now make a tally chart showing how many chose each colour:
Which colour was the most popular?
Conduct an Animal Survey
Ask 6 friends: 'What is your favourite animal?' Record their answers.
Write each friend's name and their favourite animal:
Make a tally chart of the results:
Which animal was chosen the most? Which was chosen the least?
Create Your Own Picture Graph
Pick a topic, collect data from friends, and draw a picture graph.
What topic did you choose? (e.g., favourite fruit, favourite sport)
Write the names and answers of the people you asked:
Draw your picture graph in the box below. Remember: one picture for each vote!
Write one thing you learned from your graph:
Survey: Favourite Snack
Ask 5 friends: 'What is your favourite snack?' Then make a tally chart and a picture graph.
Write each friend's name and favourite snack:
Tally chart:
Picture graph:
Which snack was the most popular?
What Can We Learn from Data?
Think carefully about what the data tells us. Circle the best answer.
If 10 children chose dogs and 3 chose birds, can we say most children prefer dogs?
If every child in the class chose a different fruit, what would the graph look like?
If we asked more children, would the favourite fruit stay the same?
Think About the Data
Look at this data about favourite fruits: apples (8), bananas (5), grapes (3), watermelons (4). Answer the questions.
Why do you think apples might be the most popular?
If we asked 10 more children, do you think grapes might become the most popular? Why or why not?
What other fruit would you add to the survey? Why?
True or False — Data Statements
Our class has: 7 dogs, 4 cats, 2 birds, 6 fish. Circle True or False for each statement.
Dogs are the most popular pet.
There are more cats than fish.
Birds and cats together equal fish.
There are 19 pets altogether.
Fish is the second most popular pet.
Write Questions About a Graph
Look at this data: favourite sports — soccer (9), swimming (5), running (3), cycling (6). Write 3 questions someone could answer using this data.
Question 1:
Question 2:
Question 3:
Now answer your own questions:
Two Classes Compared
Class 1A and Class 1B both voted on favourite fruit. This graph shows Class 1A. Answer the questions.
| Apples | |
| Bananas | |
| Grapes | |
| Watermelons |
Which fruit is most popular in Class 1A?
If Class 1B chose apples (4), bananas (6), grapes (7), watermelons (3), which fruit is most popular in Class 1B?
Which fruit is popular in both classes?
How many children voted in Class 1A?
Predict and Check
We surveyed 10 children about favourite pets. Dogs got 4 votes, cats got 3, fish got 2, birds got 1. Circle the best answer.
If we ask 10 more children, which pet will probably get the most votes?
What would happen if we only asked children who have a cat at home?
Is it possible for birds to become the most popular if we ask more children?
Match the Data Display to the Description
Match each type of data display to what it shows.
Design a Survey
You want to find out what game your class likes to play at lunch. Plan your survey.
Write the question you will ask:
What choices will you give? (Write 3 or 4 choices)
How many people will you ask?
How will you record the data — tally chart or picture graph? Why?
Interpret and Explain
A picture graph shows: soccer (10), swimming (4), running (2), cycling (6). Explain what the data tells us.
Which sport is the most popular? Why do you think that is?
Which sport is the least popular? Can you think of a reason?
If you were planning a sports day, which sport would you choose for most children? Explain your answer.
Home Activity: Family Favourites Survey
Conduct your own survey at home and create a data display!
- 1Ask everyone in your family: 'What is your favourite animal?' Record the answers using tally marks.
- 2Make a picture graph on paper showing the results — one picture for each answer.
- 3Which answer was the most popular? Which was the least popular?
- 4Try a second survey: 'What is your favourite dinner?' Make another tally chart.
- 5Bring your graphs to school to share with the class!
Home Activity: Data Detective
Be a data detective at home! Look for things to count, sort, and graph.
- 1Count the different types of shoes by the front door. Make a tally chart (e.g., sandals, sneakers, boots).
- 2Sort your toys into groups (e.g., soft toys, cars, blocks). Count how many in each group and make a picture graph.
- 3Look in the fruit bowl. Make a tally chart of each type of fruit.
- 4Ask 3 neighbours or friends: 'What is your favourite colour?' Add their answers to a tally chart.
- 5Draw a picture graph of something you counted. Write one question about your graph for someone else to answer.