How to teach pictographs
Grade 1 to Grade 4
A pictograph (picture graph) shows data using repeated pictures or symbols, where each symbol stands for a set number of items given in a key. Early pictographs use one picture for one item; later ones use a key such as one picture equals five, and part-symbols for the leftover. The key is the whole skill.
How to teach it
- Begin with one picture standing for one item, lined up in even rows so columns can be compared by length.
- Introduce a key so one symbol can stand for more than one item (for example one star equals 2 books), and always read the key first.
- Show how to draw and read a part-symbol: half a symbol means half the key value.
- Convert between the picture count and the real count by multiplying the number of symbols by the key value.
- Ask how-many-more and total questions so students combine rows, not just read one.
Worked example
Key: one circle = 5 children Bus: circle circle = 2 x 5 = 10 Walk: circle circle circle = 3 x 5 = 15 Car: circle half-circle = 1.5 x 5 = about 7 or 8 Walk has 15 - 10 = 5 more than Bus
Common mistakes
- Ignoring the key and counting each symbol as one.
- Not lining up the symbols, so a row looks longer than it is.
- Misreading a part-symbol, or forgetting it counts at all.
- Multiplying by the wrong key value when converting back to real numbers.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pictograph?
A pictograph, or picture graph, shows data using repeated pictures or symbols, where each symbol stands for a set number of items given in a key. Early pictographs use one picture for one item, while later ones use a key such as one picture equals five, with part-symbols for the leftover.
What age or grade are pictographs taught?
Pictographs are usually taught from Grade 1 to Grade 4. Children begin with one picture standing for one item, then meet a key where one symbol represents several items, learning to read and draw part-symbols and to convert between the picture count and the real count.
What is the key on a pictograph?
The key tells you how many items each symbol stands for, such as one star equalling two books. Reading the key first is essential, because a pictograph with a key does not show one item per symbol. Ignoring the key and counting each symbol as one is the most common mistake.
How do you read a part-symbol on a pictograph?
A part-symbol stands for part of the key value, so half a symbol means half of what one whole symbol represents. If the key is one circle equals 5, then half a circle is about 2 or 3. Children often misread part-symbols or forget they count at all.
How do you convert symbols to the real count?
Multiply the number of symbols by the key value. If a row has three symbols and the key is one symbol equals 5, the real count is 3 times 5, which is 15. Multiplying by the wrong key value is a frequent error, so reading the key first matters.
Why does my child misread a pictograph?
Usual causes are ignoring the key and counting each symbol as one, not lining the symbols up so a row looks longer than it is, misreading a part-symbol, and multiplying by the wrong key value when converting back. Always reading the key first prevents most of these.
What is the difference between a pictograph and a bar graph?
Both show counts for separate categories, but a pictograph uses repeated symbols with a key while a bar graph uses bars against a number scale. A pictograph where one symbol equals several items is really a bar graph in picture form, so the key does the job of the scale.
Practise with free worksheets
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