Class: Primary 4
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 9
Age: 9 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: General Mathematics
Curriculum Theme: Data Handling
Previous Lesson: Uses at Home and Problem Solving of Three Dimensional Shapes.
Topic: Pictograms
Subject Matter: Meaning of pictograms and uses, using frequency table to represent information in a pictogram, drawing pictograms from frequency tables, reading mode from pictograms, identifying least and highest values from pictograms.

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

State the meaning of a pictogram.
List the uses of pictograms.
Construct a frequency table from given data.
Draw a pictogram from a frequency table.
Read the mode from a pictogram.
Identify the least and highest values from a pictogram.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the importance of pictograms in representing data clearly.

Psychomotor Domain:

Accurately draw pictograms using appropriate symbols.

Work cooperatively with peers to interpret data presented in pictograms.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Primary 4 Mathematics
Lagos State Unified Scheme of Work for Primary 4 Mathematics
New General Mathematics for Primary Schools Book 4

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Tables of data
Charts showing examples of pictograms
Mathematics textbooks
Mathematical sets (rulers, pencils)

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how to represent information using pictures, which makes data easy to understand visually. It enables them to interpret simple data displays they might encounter daily and develop foundational skills for more complex data analysis.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can count, compare numbers, and have a basic understanding of collecting simple data.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Pictograms

Meaning of Pictogram

A pictogram is a way of representing data using pictures or symbols. Each picture or symbol stands for a certain number of items.

Uses of Pictograms

Pictograms are used for the following:

To represent data in a simple and visual way.
To make data easy to understand at a glance, especially for children.
To compare different quantities using pictures.

Constructing Pictograms from Frequency Tables

To draw a pictogram, follow these steps:

Collect Data: Gather the information you want to represent.
Create a Frequency Table: Organize the data into a table showing how often each item appears.
Choose a Symbol: Select a simple picture or symbol that relates to the data.
Determine the Key/Scale: Decide what value each symbol will represent (e.g., one car symbol = 5 cars).
Draw the Pictogram: Draw the correct number of symbols for each category based on the frequency table and the key.
Add a Title: Give the pictogram a clear title.

Reading Information from Pictograms

After drawing a pictogram, information can be read from it:

Identifying the Mode: The mode is the item or category that appears most frequently. In a pictogram, this is the row with the most symbols.
Identifying the Least Value: The least value is the item or category that appears least frequently. In a pictogram, this is the row with the fewest symbols.
Identifying the Highest Value: The highest value is the item or category that appears most frequently. In a pictogram, this is the row with the most symbols.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and reminds them about collecting and counting items. The teacher then shows a simple picture chart (e.g., number of fruits eaten by pupils) and asks pupils to observe how information is shown using pictures.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to greetings, recall previous knowledge, and observe the chart carefully.
Learning Point: Pupils are prepared for the lesson and understand that pictures can represent information.

Step 2: Meaning of Pictograms

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines a pictogram as a way of showing data using pictures, where each picture stands for a certain number of items. The teacher provides simple examples.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and state the meaning of a pictogram in their own words.
Learning Point: Pupils understand what a pictogram is.

Step 3: Uses of Pictograms

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Brainstorming/Listing
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher asks pupils where they might have seen information presented with pictures and guides them to list the uses of pictograms.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils share ideas and list the uses of pictograms as guided by the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils identify practical uses of pictograms.

Step 4: Constructing a Frequency Table

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Guidance
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides a simple set of raw data (e.g., favorite colours of 20 pupils) and guides pupils to organize it into a frequency table.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils work with the teacher to construct a frequency table from the given data.
Learning Point: Pupils learn to organize data into a frequency table.

Step 5: Drawing Pictograms from Frequency Tables

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Practice
Teacher’s Activity: Using the frequency table from Step 4, the teacher demonstrates how to choose a symbol and a key (e.g., one smiling face = 2 pupils) and then draws the pictogram on the board. The teacher then guides pupils to draw their own pictogram from another simple frequency table.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the teacher’s demonstration and then practice drawing a pictogram in their notebooks.
Learning Point: Pupils develop the skill of drawing pictograms accurately.

Step 6: Reading Information from Pictograms

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Analysis
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher presents a pre-drawn pictogram and asks questions to help pupils identify the mode, least value, and highest value.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer questions, identifying the mode, least, and highest values from the pictogram.
Learning Point: Pupils learn to interpret information presented in pictograms.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

What is a pictogram?
Mention two uses of pictograms.
If one picture symbol represents 5 items, how many items do 3 symbols represent?
From a given pictogram, how do you identify the mode?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the main points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of pictograms for clear data representation. The teacher gives homework to reinforce learning.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their understanding of pictograms.

Home Task: Solve three new exercises on Pictograms. Show each step and check each answer.

Lesson Keywords

Pictogram – A chart that uses pictures or symbols to represent data.
Frequency Table – A table that shows how often each item or value appears in a set of data.
Key/Scale – A statement in a pictogram that tells what each symbol represents.
Mode – The item or value that appears most often in a set of data.
Data – Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can provide more complex data sets for pictogram construction or ask them to create their own data and represent it. For pupils needing more support, the teacher will provide simpler data sets, pre-drawn frequency tables, or work closely with them to draw pictograms step-by-step.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure that the symbols chosen for pictograms are simple and easy to draw. Emphasize the importance of the ‘key’ as it helps in accurate interpretation of the pictogram. Encourage pupils to use rulers and pencils for neat drawings.