Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v3 - Primary 3
Pictograms
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Pictograms
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Subject: General Mathematics
Class: Primary 3
Term: 1st Term
Week: 10
Theme: Every Day Statistics
This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.
For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.
Watch on YouTuberead and represent in for mation in pictograms using vertical and horizontal arrangements; represent in for mation on a pictogram; identify the most common features of pictogram (the mode); mention the usefulness of pictogram (the mode).
2. 1. What is a Pictogram? A pictogram (or pictograph) is a chart that uses pictures or symbols to represent data. Each symbol typically stands for a certain number of items, as indicated by a 'key' or 'legend'. Pictograms are a simple and engaging way to display information, making it easy to compare quantities at a glance. 2.
2. Essential Components of a Pictogram: Title: A clear and concise heading that tells what the pictogram is about (e.g., "Number of Fruits Harvested").
Categories/Labels: The different items or groups being compared (e.g., "Apples", "Oranges", "Mangoes"). These are usually listed along one axis.
Symbols/Pictures: The actual drawings used to represent the data. The chosen symbol should be relevant to the data being presented (e.g., a picture of an apple for apples).
Key/Legend: This is a crucial part. It explains what each single symbol represents in terms of quantity (e.g., "🍎 = 5 fruits"). Without a key, the pictogram cannot be accurately read.
Arrangement: Symbols can be arranged vertically (stacked upwards) or horizontally (arranged side-by-side). 2.
3. Types of Pictograms: Vertical Pictogram: The categories are listed horizontally, and the symbols are stacked vertically above each category. It resembles a bar chart with pictures instead of bars.
Example: ``` Number of Books Read by P3 Students Key: 📚 = 2 Books 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 📚 --- --- --- --- Ali Tunde Bola Chika ``` Horizontal Pictogram: The categories are listed vertically, and the symbols are arranged horizontally next to each category.
Example: ``` Number of Children Attending School This Week Key: 👦 = 10 Children Monday: 👦👦👦 Tuesday: 👦👦👦👦 Wednesday: 👦👦 Thursday: 👦👦👦 Friday: 👦 ``` 2.
4. Steps to Create a Pictogram:
1. Collect Data: Gather the information you want to represent.
2. Choose a Suitable Symbol: Select a picture that clearly relates to the data (e.g., a car for vehicles, a book for books).
3. Determine the Key: Decide how many items each symbol will represent. This should be a number that makes the pictogram clear and manageable (e.g., 1 symbol = 1, 2, 5, or 10 items). If numbers are large, choose a larger value for the symbol.
4. Draw the Axes/Labels: Draw the framework for your pictogram, labeling the categories clearly.
5. Draw the Symbols: Based on your data and key, draw the correct number of symbols for each category. Ensure consistent spacing.
6. Add a Title: Give the pictogram a clear and descriptive title. 2.
5. Identifying the Mode in a Pictogram: The mode is the item or category that appears most frequently in a dataset. In a pictogram, the mode is the category with the highest number of symbols. It represents the most popular, most common, or largest quantity among the categories. 2.
6. Usefulness of Pictograms: Easy to Understand: Even young children or individuals with low literacy can grasp the information quickly because it uses pictures.
Visual Appeal: Pictures make data more engaging and less daunting than raw numbers.
Quick Comparison: It's easy to visually compare quantities between different categories to see which is more or less.
Simplifies Complex Data: Large amounts of data can be simplified and presented in an accessible format. --- Worked Examples (Nigerian Context): Example 1: Reading a Vertical Pictogram Scenario: A local farmer, Malam Musa, recorded the number of bags of different crops he harvested last month.
Pictogram: ``` Bags of Crops Harvested by Malam Musa Key: 🌾 = 5 Bags 🌾 🌾 🌾 🌾 🌾 🌾 🌾 🌾 🌾 🌾 🌾 --- --- --- --- Maize Yam Cassava Beans ``` Questions:
1. How many bags of Maize did Malam Musa harvest?
2. Which crop did Malam Musa harvest the most?
3. How many more bags of Cassava than Yam did he harvest?
4. What is the mode of this pictogram?
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Maize: There are 4 symbols for Maize.
Key: 1 🌾 = 5 bags. So, 4 symbols 5 bags/symbol = 20 bags of Maize.
2. Most Harvested Crop: Maize: 4 symbols (20 bags)
Yam: 2 symbols (10 bags) * Cassava: 5 Yam Cassava Beans ``` Questions:
1. How many bags of Maize did Malam Musa harvest?
2. Which crop did Malam Musa harvest the most?
3. How many more bags of Cassava than Yam did he harvest?
4. What is the mode of this pictogram?
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Maize: There are 4 symbols for Maize.
Key: 1 🌾 = 5 bags. So, 4 symbols 5 bags/symbol = 20 bags of Maize.
2. Most Harvested Crop: Maize: 4 symbols (20 bags)
Yam: 2 symbols (10 bags)
Cassava: 5 symbols (25 bags)
Beans: 3 symbols (15 bags) The highest number of symbols is for Cassava (5 symbols). So, Cassava was harvested the most.
3. Difference between Cassava and Yam: Cassava: 5 symbols (25 bags)
Yam: 2 symbols (10 bags) Difference = 25 - 10 = 15 bags.
4. Mode: The mode is the crop harvested most frequently, which is Cassava.
Example 2: Creating a Horizontal Pictogram and Identifying the Mode Scenario: In a survey of primary 3 students, their favourite traditional Nigerian meals were recorded: Jollof Rice (15 students), Amala (20 students), Pounded Yam (10 students), Tuwo Shinkafa (5 students).
Task: Represent this information on a pictogram and identify the mode.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Choose a Symbol: A small plate/bowl icon 🍽️ would be suitable.
2. Determine the Key: The numbers are 15, 20, 10,
5. All are multiples of
5. So, a good key would be 🍽️ = 5 students.
3. Calculate Symbols Needed: Jollof Rice: 15 / 5 = 3 symbols Amala: 20 / 5 = 4 symbols Pounded Yam: 10 / 5 = 2 symbols Tuwo Shinkafa: 5 / 5 = 1 symbol
4. Draw the Pictogram: ``` Favourite Traditional Nigerian Meals of P3 Students Key: 🍽️ = 5 Students Jollof Rice: 🍽️🍽️🍽️ Amala: 🍽️🍽️🍽️🍽️ Pounded Yam: 🍽️🍽️ Tuwo Shinkafa: 🍽️ ```
5. Identify the Mode: Amala has the most symbols (4 symbols), representing 20 students.
Therefore, the mode is Amala. 3.
1. Introduction (5-10 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Begin by asking students how they can show the number of boys and girls in the class without just writing numbers. Encourage ideas like drawing stick figures.
Teacher Activity: Introduce the term "pictogram" as a smart way to use pictures to count and show information. Show a simple chart of "Our Class Attendance Today" using stick figures (1 stick figure = 1 student).
Student Activity: Engage in a short discussion, count boys and girls, and observe the simple chart. 3.
2. Explanation of Key Concepts (15-20 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Explain what a pictogram is, using the example from the introduction. Introduce and explain the essential components: title, categories, symbols, and most importantly, the key. Emphasize that the key tells us the value of each picture.
Teacher Activity: Present a pre-drawn simple pictogram (e.g., "Number of Oranges Sold at Mama Nkechi's Stall") on the board, with a clear title and key (e.g., 🍊 = 2 oranges).
Teacher Activity: Demonstrate how to read the pictogram by counting symbols and using the key to find the total for each category. Differentiate between vertical and horizontal arrangements using examples.
Student Activity: Students will listen attentively, ask clarifying questions, and practice reading quantities from the displayed pictogram under teacher guidance. 3.
3. Practicing Reading and Representing Information (20-25 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Provide a new dataset (e.g., "Favorite Types of Local Snacks among P3 Students: Puff-puff (10), Akara (15), Donkwa (5)").
Teacher Activity: Guide students step-by-step through creating a pictogram for this data on the board. Ask them to suggest a suitable symbol (e.g., 🍩 for snacks). Discuss and decide on an appropriate key (e.g., 🍩 = 5 snacks). Demonstrate drawing the correct number of symbols for each snack. Emphasize adding a title and labeling categories.
Teacher Activity: Distribute handouts with a simple pictogram and questions for students to answer individually or in pairs. (e.g., "Number of Tricycles (Keke Napep) on Main Road - Key: 🛺 = 3 Keke Napeps").
Student Activity: Students will actively participate in suggesting symbols and keys. They will work through the handout, reading the pictogram and answering questions based on its content. 3.
4. Identifying the Mode and Usefulness (10-15 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Revisit the previously created pictograms. Ask, "Which snack was the most popular?" or "Which crop did Malam Musa harvest most?" Teacher Activity: Introduce the term "mode" as the most frequent or popular item shown in the pictogram. Explain that it's simply the category with the most pictures.
Teacher Activity: Facilitate a discussion on why pictograms are useful. Ask students where they might see pictures being used to show numbers in their community (e.g., showing types of animals on a farm, number of items sold in a shop).
Student Activity: Students will identify the mode from various pictograms. They will contribute ideas about the usefulness of pictograms based on their daily observations. 3.
5. Group Activity/Application (15-20 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Divide students into small groups (3-4 students). Provide each group with a simple data collection task (e.g., "Count the number of different coloured pens/pencils in your group").
Teacher Activity: Instruct each group to create a pictogram on a piece of paper using their collected data. Remind them to include a title, key, categories, and symbols.
Teacher Activity: Circulate among groups, providing support and checking for understanding, particularly on the selection of symbols and the accuracy of the key.
Student Activity: Students will work collaboratively to collect data, choose appropriate symbols and keys, and construct a pictogram based on their findings. They will present their pictogram to the class if time permits. 3.
6. Conclusion (5 minutes)
Teacher Activity: Summarize the main points of the lesson: what a pictogram is, its parts, how to read it, how to create it, how to find the mode, and its importance.
Teacher Activity: Address any lingering questions and reinforce the idea that pictograms help us understand numbers better.
Student Activity: Participate in the summary and ask final questions. (Teacher should work through these examples with students, demonstrating each step.)
Question 1: Reading a Vertical Pictogram Scenario: Mrs. Obi sells different types of soft drinks at her kiosk. The pictogram below shows the number of bottles of each drink she sold in a day.
Pictogram: ``` Soft Drinks Sold at Mrs.
Obi's Kiosk Key: 🥤 = 5 Bottles 🥤 🥤 🥤 🥤 🥤 🥤 🥤 🥤 🥤 🥤 🥤 🥤 --- --- --- --- Fanta Cola Sprite Mirinda ``` Questions: a) How many bottles of Fanta did Mrs. Obi sell? b) Which drink was sold the least? c) What is the total number of Cola and Sprite bottles sold? d) What is the mode of this pictogram?
Solution: a)
Fanta: There are 3 symbols for Fanta.
Key: 1 🥤 = 5 bottles. So, 3 symbols * 5 bottles/symbol = 15 bottles of Fanta. b)
Drink sold the least: Fanta: 3 symbols (15 bottles)
Cola: 5 symbols (25 bottles)
Sprite: 4 symbols (20 bottles)
Mirinda: 2 symbols (10 bottles) Mirinda has the fewest symbols (2 symbols). So, Mirinda was sold the least. c)
Total Cola and Sprite: Cola: 5 symbols 5 bottles/symbol = 25 bottles Sprite: 4 symbols 5 bottles/symbol = 20 bottles Total = 25 + 20 = 45 bottles. d)
Mode: The drink with the most symbols is Cola (5 symbols). So, the mode is Cola.
Question 2: Representing Information on a Pictogram (Horizontal)
Scenario: The number of students who visited the school library during the week was recorded: Monday (8), Tuesday (12), Wednesday (4), Thursday (10), Friday (6).
Task: Create a horizontal pictogram to represent this information.
Solution: Choose a Symbol: A book icon 📖 would be suitable.
Determine the Key: The numbers are 8, 12, 4, 10,
6. All are even. A good key would be 📖 = 2 students (to avoid fractions of symbols at this level).
Calculate Symbols Needed: Monday: 8 / 2 = 4 symbols Tuesday: 12 / 2 = 6 symbols Wednesday: 4 / 2 = 2 symbols Thursday: 10 / 2 = 5 symbols Friday: 6 / 2 = 3 symbols Draw the Pictogram: ``` Students Visiting the School Library Key: 📖 = 2 Students Monday: 📖📖📖📖 Tuesday: 📖📖📖📖📖📖 Wednesday: 📖📖 Thursday: 📖📖📖📖📖 Friday: 📖📖📖 ```
Commentary: Emphasize the importance of clear labels for days and consistent symbol size.
Question 3: Identifying the Mode and Usefulness Scenario: A community health worker recorded the number of children vaccinated against Measles in four different villages last month.
Pictogram: ``` Children Vaccinated Against Measles Key: 💉 = 10 Children Village A: 💉💉💉💉💉 Village B: 💉💉💉 Village C: 💉💉💉💉💉💉💉 Village D: 💉💉💉💉 ``` Questions: a) Which village had the highest number of children vaccinated? b) What is the mode in this pictogram? c) State one usefulness of seeing this information presented as a pictogram.
Solution: a)
Village with highest vaccinations: Village A: 5 symbols (50 children)
Village B: 3 symbols (30 children)
Village C: 7 symbols (70 children)
Village D: 4 symbols (40 children) Village C has the most symbols (7 symbols). So, Village C had the highest number of children vaccinated. b)
Mode: The category with the most symbols is Village
C. So, the mode is Village C. c)
Usefulness: This pictogram makes it easy to quickly compare which village had the most or fewest vaccinations, allowing health workers to identify areas needing more attention. It's easy to understand the data at a glance. (Accept similar reasonable answers).
Community Health Statistics: Pictograms can be used by local health centres to display simple health data. For example, a pictogram could show the number of children immunized against common diseases (e.g., polio, measles) in different wards or villages. A syringe symbol (💉) could represent 10 immunized children. This helps the community visually understand health coverage and identify areas needing more intervention.
Market Sales and Trends: Traders in local markets often track their sales. A pictogram can be used to show the quantity of different goods sold in a week (e.g., bags of garri, litres of palm oil, baskets of tomatoes). A symbol like a bag (🛍️) could represent 20 units. This allows traders to quickly see which items are most popular and plan their stock accordingly.
School Attendance and Performance: Schools can use pictograms to represent daily or weekly attendance figures, or even the number of students who passed different subjects. For instance, a happy face (😊) representing 5 students can show attendance, making it easy for students and parents to understand attendance patterns or class performance without needing to read complex reports.
Agricultural Output: Farmers can use pictograms to record and compare the yield of different crops from their farms. A symbol of a yam tuber (🍠) could represent a certain quantity of yams, a maize cob (🌽) for maize, etc. This helps them monitor productivity and decide which crops are most profitable or require more attention.