Minds On
Tally table
Forty chefs were asked, “What is your favourite breakfast food?”
Here were the options: milk, cereal, apples, toast, other.
| Favourite Breakfast Food | Tallies for Favourite Breakfast Food |
|---|---|
|
|
|
Cereal 
|
|
|
Apples 
|
|
|
Toast 
|
|
|
Other |
Explore the tally table.
How many foods did each chef choose? How do you know?
Record your ideas using a method of your choice.
Action
Task 1: Organizing with tally tables
A teacher surveyed a class to answer the following questions:
Do you prefer pavement recess or grass recess?
| Do You Prefer Pavement or Grass Recess? | |
|---|---|
| Recess | Tally |
| Pavement | |
| Grass | |
One way to organize data we collect is to create a tally table.
A tally table has two columns:
- first column: mentions the choices for the question asked
- second column: includes the tally marks
When we create tally marks, we group them into sets of five, that we add up. The marks are like sticks, with the fifth mark crossing the other four marks like this:
What does this data tell us?
If another class were surveyed, would we get the same results? Why or why not?
Task 2: The neighbourhood park
A landscape company is going to design a park. They want to know if they should include trees or rocks in the playground or the field. A Grade 2 class was asked for their preference.
The 14 students chose between rocks or trees and field or playground. This two-way tally table shows the results.
| Field | Playground | |
|---|---|---|
|
Rocks 
|
||
|
Trees 
|
Answer the following questions:
- What does this data tell us? How do you know?
- What should the landscape company choose? Why?
Record your thoughts using a method of your choice.
Consolidation
Independent task
Let’s return to the teacher who asked the students about recess.
| Do You Prefer Pavement or Grass Recess? | |
|---|---|
| Recess | Tally |
| Pavement | |
| Grass | |
The teacher also asked students if they preferred playing sports or games at recess. So,
- 3 students chose pavement and sports
- 4 students chose grass and sports
- 2 students chose pavement and games
- 5 students chose grass and games
Sort the data the teacher collected. You can use the two-way printable and fillable Tally Table below, your notebook, or use a voice recorder.
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Tally Table.
Answer the following questions:
- What does this data tell us? How do you know?
- What was the most popular recess choice?
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel…
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.