Reading a simple table — Data, 4–6 years
A table puts answers beside their numbers, so we can find one piece of information without searching through a long list.
Rows keep things together
A simple table has rows, like little shelves. One part of a row names what we are looking at, and another part tells how many or gives an answer. Reading across one row keeps the name and its information together.
Why make a table?
A list can be useful, but it becomes hard to scan when several kinds of answers are mixed together. A table gives each kind of information its own place, so the eye can find it quickly. This solves the problem of losing which number belongs to which thing.
Find the table’s answer
A table says: Apples 3, Bananas 5, Pears 2. The question is, “How many bananas are there?” First find the row named Bananas. Then read across to its number, 5. The answer is five bananas; there is no need to add the other rows.
Stay on the right row
A common mistake is to find the right word but read the number from the row above or below. This is reasonable because the numbers may be close together, especially in a small table. Put your finger on the row name and slide it across before reading the number.
Tables outside school
A bus timetable shows which bus comes and when. A recipe table can show how many spoonfuls are needed for different numbers of people. A family shopping list may use a table for each item and its price, as long as the headings are clear.
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