You will learn
- Say what the parts of a bar graph are.
- Read the height of a bar using the scale.
- Draw a bar graph.
- Compare bars.
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
- A bar graph uses bars.
- The height of a bar shows the number.
- Read the height using the scale.
- The tallest bar is the most.
Words to know
A graph that uses bars.
The numbers along the side.
A name on a bar or axis.
The name of the graph.
1. Discover: fruit bars
Bars of different heights show how many children chose each fruit. Which bar is tallest? What does that tell us?
2. Understand: bar graphs
A bar graph has a title, labels under each bar and a scale up the side. The height of the bar shows the number.
In the fruit graph the scale counts in 2s: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. The banana bar reaches 8, so 8 children chose banana. If a bar ends halfway between 4 and 6, it is 5.
The tallest bar is the most popular choice.
Idea 1: Parts of a bar graph
A bar graph has bars, a scale (the numbers along the side), labels and a title.
Idea 2: Read a bar
Look at the top of the bar. Follow across to the scale. If the banana bar reaches 8, then 8 children chose banana.
Idea 3: Between lines
Halfway between 4 and 6 is 5.
Why the height? The height shows how many. The label only names the bar.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Read
The banana bar reaches 8. How many chose banana?
- Read the height.
Answer: 8
Example 2 (We do it together): Tallest
Which bar is the tallest?
- Compare the heights.
Answer: The one with the most
Example 3 (You try): Halfway
What number is halfway between 4 and 6?
Show the steps and answer
- 4, 5, 6.
Answer: 5
Did you know?
Bar graphs are used in newspapers, schools and shops.
Why this matters
Bars make it easy to compare amounts at a glance.
4. Explore: draw a bar graph
You need squared paper and crayons.
- Draw a side line with scale 0 to 10 in 2s.
- Draw a bar for each choice.
- Label each bar and give a title.
- Say which bar is tallest.
Think about it: what did you notice?
Bar heights match the tally numbers.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- The ___ bar reaches ___.
- ___ children chose ___.
- The tallest bar is ___.
- The title is ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. Banana bar reaches 8. How many?
8.
Question 2. Which bar is tallest?
The one with the most.
Question 3. Halfway between 4 and 6?
5.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- How many chose mango?
- How many chose pawpaw?
- Which bar is tallest?
- What does the scale show?
- Draw a bar of height 6.
Level 2: Grow
- How many chose orange?
- How many chose banana?
- Which bar is shorter, mango or banana?
Level 3: Stretch
- Mango + orange = ___.
- How many more chose banana than pawpaw?
- Ben reads the pawpaw bar as the word pawpaw. What should he read?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: everyday mathematics
In the graph, mango is 6 and banana is 8. How many more chose banana?
Show a sample answer
2 more.
Another one. Draw a bar graph for cats 4, dogs 6, birds 2. Which bar is tallest? Write a title.
Show a sample answer
The dogs bar; for example Pets in our class
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Read the height at the top of the bar using the scale.
Fix: Read the top of the bar on the scale.
Fix: The scale goes up in 2s here.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can name the parts of a bar graph.
- I can read the height of a bar.
- I can draw a bar graph.
- I can compare bars.
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
- Bar height shows the number.
- Use the scale.
- Tallest bar = most.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Reading graphs. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
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.
- What does the height of a bar show? [1 mark]
- The mango bar reaches 6. How many chose mango? [1 mark]
- Which is taller, a bar of 8 or a bar of 4? [1 mark]
- Banana is 8 and pawpaw is 2. How many more chose banana? [2 marks]
- Ali says the tallest bar has the fewest. Is he right? Explain. [3 marks]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- The number [1]
- 6 [1]
- 8 [1]
- 8 − 2 [1] = 6 [1]
- No [1]. The height shows the number [1]. The tallest has the most [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
- Mango bar height
- Pawpaw bar height
- Tallest bar
- What does the scale show?
- Draw a bar of height 6 (write the number)
- The height of a bar shows the ___.
- The banana bar reaches 8. How many?
- The tallest bar shows the ___.
- Halfway between 4 and 6 is ___.
- The title tells us what the graph is ___.
Homework
Make a bar graph of your family’s favourite colours on squared paper.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Mango bar height | 6 | 2 |
| Pawpaw bar height | 2 | 2 |
| Tallest bar | banana | 2 |
| What does the scale show? | the numbers | 2 |
| Draw a bar of height 6 (write the number) | 6 | 2 |
| Total | 10 |
Practice answers: Worksheet: 1 6; 2 2; 3 banana; 4 the numbers; 5 6.
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 number; 7 8; 8 most; 9 5; 10 about.
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 6; 2 2; 3 banana; 4 the numbers; 5 a bar to the line marked 6. Level 2: 1 4; 2 8; 3 mango. Level 3: 1 10; 2 6; 3 The height: 2.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say what the parts of a bar graph are | 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 Read the height of a bar using the scale | 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 Draw a bar 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 |
| O4 Compare bars | 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: Reading the label instead of the height. Read the height at the top of the bar using the scale.
- Explain another way: use real objects first, then pictures.
- Show a simpler example: Colour squares to build each bar one square at a time.
- 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 reads and draws bar graphs. You do not need to be good at mathematics to help.
- Draw a bar graph of the family’s favourite foods.
- Ask: how tall is the bar? What does it mean?
- Use squared paper.
- 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: say what the parts of a bar graph are; read the height of a bar using the scale; draw a bar graph; compare bars.
Prerequisite knowledge. Lesson 3.
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 squared paper and crayons. 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. Which bar? How tall is it? What number does it show?
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. Reading the label instead of the height. Read the height at the top of the bar using the scale.
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. Colour squares to build each bar one square at a time. 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 (bar graphs) and 3.MD.B.3; Cambridge Primary Mathematics Stage 2 (data). These sources informed the lesson.