You will learn
- Answer how many and which questions.
- Answer more and fewer questions.
- Answer total and half questions.
- Make a statement from a graph.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Read the question twice.
- Find the answer on the graph.
- Use add and subtract for total and more questions.
- Make a statement from the graph.
Words to know
Something we ask.
A sentence that tells a fact.
One of two equal parts.
The total.
1. Discover: graph questions
Look again at the fruit graph. What questions can you ask? Can you also say a fact about the class?
2. Understand: answering questions
From the graph (mango 6, orange 4, banana 8, pawpaw 2) we can answer many kinds of question.
- How many? 8 chose banana.
- Which? Banana is the favourite.
- How many more? Banana has 4 more than orange (8 − 4).
- Altogether: 20 children.
- Half: orange (4) is half of banana (8).
A statement tells a fact: “Banana is the favourite fruit in our class.”
Idea 1: How many?
The fruit graph shows mango 6, banana 8, orange 4 and pawpaw 2. How many chose banana? 8.
Idea 2: More, total, half
How many more chose banana than orange? 8 − 4 = 4. How many altogether? 6 + 8 + 4 + 2 = 20. Half of 8 is 4, so orange is half of banana.
Idea 3: Make a statement
A statement is a sentence that tells a fact: “Banana was chosen by 8 children.”
Why read twice? It stops us answering a different question.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): How many
How many chose banana?
- Read the banana bar.
Answer: 8
Example 2 (We do it together): More
How many more bananas than oranges?
- 8 − 4.
Answer: 4
Example 3 (You try): Half
Which fruit is half of banana?
Show the steps and answer
- Half of 8 is 4.
Answer: Orange
Did you know?
Scientists, shops and schools answer questions from graphs every day.
Why this matters
Answering questions from a graph shows we understand the data.
4. Explore: quiz the graph
You need the fruit graph.
- Write a how many question.
- Write a how many more question.
- Write a total question.
- Swap with a partner and answer.
Think about it: what did you notice?
Check answers against the graph.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- ___ children chose ___.
- ___ more chose ___ than ___.
- Altogether there are ___.
- My statement is ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. How many more bananas than oranges?
8 − 4 = 4.
Question 2. Which fruit is half of banana?
Orange (4).
Question 3. If 5 more choose pawpaw, how many choose pawpaw?
2 + 5 = 7.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- How many chose banana?
- How many more bananas than oranges?
- How many altogether?
- Mango + pawpaw?
- Write one statement about the graph.
Level 2: Grow
- How many chose mango?
- How many fewer chose pawpaw than banana?
- Orange + banana = ___.
Level 3: Stretch
- How many children did not choose banana?
- Pawpaw is half of which fruit?
- Ade says 8 + 6 + 4 + 2 = 24. Check his answer.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: everyday mathematics
If 5 more children choose pawpaw, how many choose pawpaw in all?
Show a sample answer
7.
Another one. Write one how-many question and one how-many-more question about the fruit graph. Answer them.
Show a sample answer
For example: How many chose mango? 6. How many more chose banana than mango? 2.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Read the question twice.
Fix: Read the question twice.
Fix: Check the label before you read the height.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can answer how many and which questions.
- I can answer more and fewer questions.
- I can answer total and half questions.
- I can make a statement from a graph.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Read the question.
- Use the graph.
- Answer in a sentence.
11. Next lesson
You have finished Grade 2 Mathematics. Well done!
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- How many chose banana? [1 mark]
- How many more chose banana than orange? [2 marks]
- How many children chose a fruit altogether? [2 marks]
- Which fruit is half of banana? [2 marks]
- Write one statement about the graph. [1 mark]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- 8 [1]
- 8 − 4 [1] = 4 [1]
- 6 + 8 + 4 + 2 [1] = 20 [1]
- Half of 8 is 4 [1]; orange [1]
- Any true statement [1]
Score guide: 7 to 8 = secure. 5 to 6 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- How many chose banana?
- How many more bananas than oranges?
- How many altogether?
- Mango + pawpaw?
- Which fruit is half of banana?
- How many chose banana?
- How many more bananas than oranges?
- How many altogether?
- Mango + pawpaw = ___.
- Which fruit is half of banana?
Homework
Make a graph about your family and write three questions with answers.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| How many chose banana? | 8 | 2 |
| How many more bananas than oranges? | 4 | 2 |
| How many altogether? | 20 | 2 |
| Mango + pawpaw? | 8 | 2 |
| Which fruit is half of banana? | orange | 2 |
| Total | 10 |
Practice answers: Worksheet: 1 8; 2 4; 3 20; 4 8; 5 orange.
Quiz answers: 1 A, 2 B, 3 C, 4 A, 5 B, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 C, Challenge 2 C.
Extra worksheet answers (items 6 onward): 6 8; 7 4; 8 20; 9 8; 10 orange.
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 8; 2 4; 3 20; 4 8; 5 for example Banana is the most popular. Level 2: 1 6; 2 6; 3 12. Level 3: 1 12; 2 orange; 3 8 + 6 = 14, 14 + 4 = 18, 18 + 2 = 20. He is wrong..
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Answer how many and which questions | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Answer more and fewer questions | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Answer total and half questions | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Make a statement from a graph | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Answering a different question from the one asked. Read the question twice.
- Explain another way: use real objects first, then pictures.
- Show a simpler example: Answer one question at a time using counters for the bars.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child answers questions from a graph and writes statements. You do not need to be good at mathematics to help.
- Make up questions about a graph and take turns answering.
- Ask: which is the most? the least?
- Write a statement from the graph.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: answer how many and which questions; answer more and fewer questions; answer total and half questions; make a statement from a graph.
Prerequisite knowledge. Lessons 1 to 6.
Materials. Counters (stones, seeds or bottle tops), paper, pencils, board or chalkboard. Low-resource options: use stones, seeds, sticks, bottle tops or drawings in the sand or on the board instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Gather the counters and draw the example pictures on the board before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Start with the Discover situation and let learners suggest ideas before you teach.
Explanation (10 min). Teach the Understand section with real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words.
Guided activity (10 min). You need the fruit graph. Learners follow the Explore steps in pairs.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners complete the independent practice and the worksheet.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What does the question ask? Where is the answer on the graph? Does it make sense?
Teacher explanation notes. Use the concrete, pictorial, abstract order: real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words. Return to real objects whenever a learner needs support.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and work with a partner; say each step aloud together. Extension. Ask learners to make up their own example and explain it to a partner.
Formative assessment. Listen to learner explanations, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Answering a different question from the one asked. Read the question twice.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz and worksheet on this page. The 8-mark exam practice scheme, the 10-mark scheme and all answers are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer and the marking scheme before publication.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Answer one question at a time using counters for the bars. Enrichment. Invite learners to find or create three more examples at home or in the classroom and explain them. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which concepts learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points named in the Courseversity standard: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (official site): Grade 2 » Measurement & Data. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core 2.MD.D.10 and 3.MD.B.3 (answer questions from graphs); Cambridge Primary Mathematics Stage 2 (data). These sources informed the lesson.