Showing data with pictures — Data, 4–6 years
A picture chart turns counted answers into a display we can see. One picture can stand for one object, making groups easier to compare.
One picture can stand for one thing
A picture chart uses repeated pictures to show how many things are in each group. If one star means one vote, five stars mean five votes. You can read the chart by counting the pictures, just as you count the real objects.
Why make a picture chart?
A list of numbers can be hard to compare quickly, especially when the groups have different names. A picture chart gives each group a visible row, so a longer row means more. It was made to solve the problem of seeing a collection’s results without holding every object in front of us.
A favourite fruit chart
Four children choose fruit: apple, banana, apple and pear. Draw one apple picture in the apple row for each apple choice, so that row has two pictures. Draw one banana and one pear. Now compare the rows: apple has two choices, while banana and pear each have one.
Check what one picture means
A common mistake is counting pictures without checking what each picture represents. That mistake is reasonable because a picture looks like one object. But a chart may say that one picture means two toys or five children. Look for the key first, then count and multiply only when the chart tells you to.
Pictures that show results
Picture charts appear on classroom voting boards, weather displays and simple signs. A row of sun pictures can show sunny days, while cloud pictures show cloudy days. The pictures help someone understand the result at a glance, but only if the key is clear.
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