Math lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes
Scaled bar graphs and pictograms
Statistics and probability
CCSS 3.MD.B.3England: Y3 Statistics
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Scaled bar graphs and pictograms.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Bar graphs: compare and total; Times tables: 2, 5 and 10
Leads to: Line plots and tables; Draw conclusions from a bar chart
Materials: Squared paper for charts, Class survey data, Sticky notes for a live chart, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Bar graphs: compare and total; Times tables: 2, 5 and 10). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 12 × 5 = ? → 60Prompt: Count in 5s, 12 times.
- 4 × 5 = ? → 20Prompt: Count in 5s, 4 times.
- 3 × 2 = ? → 6Prompt: Count in 2s, 3 times.
Hook · 3 min
- Take a quick class survey (favorite fruit, travel to school) and ask what the results tell us.
- Share the objective: Scaled bar graphs and pictograms. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: In Elena's pictogram, each ★ stands for 2 books. The row for "Mystery" shows 2 stars. How many mystery books is that?
- Step 1: 2 × 2 = 4
- Answer: 4
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- In Hiro's pictogram, each ★ stands for 10 books. The row for "Mystery" shows 8 stars. How many mystery books is that? → 80Prompt: Multiply the number of whole stars by 10.
- In Zoe's pictogram, each ★ stands for 10 books. The row for "Mystery" shows 8 and a half stars. How many mystery books is that? → 85Prompt: Multiply the number of whole stars by 10.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- In Grace's pictogram, each ★ stands for 5 books. The row for "Mystery" shows 8 stars. How many mystery books is that? → 40Prompt: Multiply the number of whole stars by 5.
- In Arjun's pictogram, each ★ stands for 5 books. The row for "Mystery" shows 5 stars. How many mystery books is that? → 25Prompt: Multiply the number of whole stars by 5.
Watch out for
- Forgetting to put data in order before finding the median.
- Reading a bar's height wrongly when the scale goes up in 2s or 5s.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Bar graphs: compare and total.
- Use concrete materials: squared paper for charts.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Move on to: Line plots and tables; Draw conclusions from a bar chart.
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-3.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder