Mode in Pictograms for Primary 3

Class: Primary 3
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 10
Age: 8 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Mathematics
Curriculum Theme: Mathematics
Previous Lesson: Geometry, Properties of Plane, Stating the Relationship Between the Sides.
Topic: Pictograms
Subject Matter: Mode, Identify the most common value in a pictogram, Finding the mode in a pictogram, Drawing pictogram from a given table, Drawing a table from a pictogram, Reading mode from table, Summing and differentiating items from a table/pictogram.

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

• Identify the most common value (mode) in a pictogram.
• Identify the number of items from a table or pictogram.
• Find the mode from tables and pictograms.
• Sum two or more items from a table or pictogram.
• Differentiate between two items from a table or pictogram.
• Solve simple word problems on mode.

Affective Domain:

• Appreciate the use of pictograms for presenting data.
• Participate actively in classroom activities.

Psychomotor Domain:

• Draw pictograms from given tables accurately.
• Draw tables from given pictograms accurately.

Social Domain:

• Collaborate with peers to interpret data.
• Communicate findings from pictograms clearly.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• State Unified Scheme of Work
• Essential Mathematics for Primary Schools Book 3
• https://www.studyadda.com/notes/class-3/mathematics/pictographs/4620
• https://www.teachoo.com/6451/668/Pictograph—Introduction/category/Introduction/

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Charts showing various pictograms
• Tables with data for pictogram drawing
• Whiteboard and markers
• Textbooks

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils understand how to represent and interpret data visually using pictograms. It enables them to identify the most frequent item (mode) and perform simple calculations, which are important skills for understanding information in everyday life.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils should have basic knowledge of counting, comparing numbers, and simple addition and subtraction.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Pictograms and Mode

What is a Pictogram?

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

What is Mode?

The mode is the item that appears most often in a set of data. When looking at a pictogram, the mode is the item with the most pictures or symbols.

Identifying the Mode in a Pictogram

To find the mode in a pictogram, look for the row or column that has the most symbols. The item represented by that row or column is the mode.

Example 1: Identifying Mode

A pictogram showing favourite fruits:

Apple: 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎

Banana: 🍌🍌🍌

Orange: 🍊🍊🍊🍊

Key: Each fruit picture = 1 fruit

Mode: Apple (because it has 5 symbols, which is the most).

Drawing a Pictogram from a Given Table

To draw a pictogram from a table, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Choose a simple symbol to represent the items.
• Step 2: Decide on a key (e.g., “Each ⚽ stands for 2 balls”). This tells you how many items each symbol represents.
• Step 3: Draw the correct number of symbols for each item based on the key.

Example 2: Drawing a Pictogram

Table of favourite colours:

Key: Each 🧍 stands for 2 pupils

Pictogram:

Red: 🧍🧍🧍

Blue: 🧍🧍🧍🧍

Green: 🧍🧍

Drawing a Table from a Pictogram

To draw a table from a pictogram, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Read the key to know what each symbol represents.
• Step 2: Count the number of symbols for each item.
• Step 3: Multiply the count by the value of the key to get the total number of items.
• Step 4: Record the data in a table.

Example 3: Drawing a Table from a Pictogram

Pictogram showing number of toys sold:

Car: 🚗🚗🚗🚗

Doll: 👧👧👧

Ball: ⚽⚽⚽⚽⚽

Key: Each picture = 10 toys

Table:

Finding Mode from a Table

To find the mode from a table, look at the “Number” or “Frequency” column and find the item with the largest number.

Example 4: Finding Mode from a Table

Table of students’ scores in a test:

Mode: Score 6 (because 7 students got this score, which is the highest number of students).

Summing and Differentiating Items from a Table/Pictogram

Example 5: Summing Items

Using Example 3 (toys sold): How many Cars and Dolls were sold in total?

Solution:

Number of Cars = 40

Number of Dolls = 30

Total = 40 + 30 = 70 toys

Example 6: Differentiating Items

Using Example 3 (toys sold): How many more Balls were sold than Dolls?

Solution:

Number of Balls = 50

Number of Dolls = 30

Difference = 50 – 30 = 20 more Balls

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 asks them if they have ever seen information presented using pictures, like in a newspaper or on a chart. The teacher then introduces the topic: Pictograms.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively to the introduction.
Learning Point: Pupils are introduced to the concept of pictograms.

Step 2: Explanation of Pictograms and Mode

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what a pictogram is, using a simple chart or drawing on the board. The teacher defines “mode” as the item that appears most often, demonstrating with a simple example of favourite colours in the class.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanations, ask questions, and identify the mode in the teacher’s examples.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the definitions of pictogram and mode.

Step 3: Identifying Mode in Pictograms

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays a simple pictogram on the board (e.g., favourite animals) and guides pupils to identify the animal that has the most pictures, thus finding the mode.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the pictogram, count the symbols, and identify the mode.
Learning Point: Pupils can identify the most common value (mode) in a given pictogram.

Step 4: Drawing Pictograms from Tables

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Guided Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides a simple table (e.g., number of books in different subjects). The teacher demonstrates step-by-step how to choose a symbol, set a key, and draw a pictogram from the table. Pupils are guided to draw one example on their own.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils watch the demonstration, follow the steps, and attempt to draw a pictogram from a provided table.
Learning Point: Pupils learn how to draw a pictogram from a given table.

Step 5: Drawing Tables from Pictograms

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Guided Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays a pictogram and explains how to read the key and count the symbols to create a data table. The teacher guides pupils through an example of converting a pictogram into a table.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe and participate in converting a pictogram into a table.
Learning Point: Pupils can draw a table from a given pictogram.

Step 6: Summing and Differentiating Items

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Problem-Solving/Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: Using a pictogram or table already on the board, the teacher asks questions like “How many items are there in total for two categories?” or “How many more of item A than item B?”. The teacher guides pupils to solve these problems.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils solve simple addition and subtraction problems based on the data in the pictogram or table.
Learning Point: Pupils can sum and differentiate between two or more items from a table or pictogram.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is a pictogram?
2. What is the mode in data?
3. Given a simple pictogram, identify the item with the most values.
4. If a table shows 10 red cars and 5 blue cars, how many cars are there in total?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarisation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of pictograms and mode in understanding data. The teacher gives pupils homework to draw a pictogram for given data.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and receive an assignment to practice.

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.
• Mode – The item that appears most frequently in a set of data.
• Key – Explains what each symbol in a pictogram represents.
• Data – Facts or information collected for analysis.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can provide more complex tables to convert into pictograms or challenge them with multi-step word problems involving data from pictograms. For pupils who need more support, the teacher will provide simpler pictograms with fewer categories and a direct key, offering one-on-one guidance during drawing activities.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure that the symbols chosen for pictograms are simple and easy for Primary 3 pupils to draw. Emphasize the importance of the ‘key’ in a pictogram. Allow pupils to work in pairs for drawing activities to encourage collaboration and peer learning. Provide sufficient practice examples for both drawing pictograms and interpreting data from them.