Minds On

Favourite sports in City A

Think about the following questions as you explore the table:

  1. Who is the data about?
  2. What is the data about?
  3. How many more people like hockey than swimming?
  4. Which sport has the least number of votes?
  5. What are some things that the frequency table does not tell you about?

Throughout this learning activity, you can record your thoughts digitally, orally, or in print.

Favourite sports in City A

Action

What does the data tell us?

Task 1

Compare the following two frequency tables about the favourite sports in City A and City B.

Favourite sports in City A

Sports Tally Frequency
Hockey 30
Soccer 10
Swimming 20
Basketball 45
Baseball 15
Another sport 10

Favourite sports in City B

Sports Tally Frequency
Hockey 20
Soccer 60
Swimming 20
Basketball 15
Baseball 5
Another sport 5

The frequency tables are about the same topic but tell us very different information.

What do we know about these frequency tables?

Press ‘Hint’ to reveal sample responses about these frequency tables.

  • They are about favourite sports.
  • One is about City A and the other is about City B.
  • The sports are the same in both tables.

What are some of the things that we do not know about?

Press ‘Hint’ to reveal a hint about frequency tables.

  • Who was asked?
  • Were they asked if they play the sport or watch the sport?

What conclusions can you make from these two frequency tables?

What questions do you still have about this data?

Record your ideas in a method of your choice.

Task 2

Pick one of the two frequency tables from the previous section to create either a pictograph or a bar graph on the computer or in print, or record a detailed description of the type of graph you would create and how you would create it.

You can use the following tool to create a bar graph.

Pictographs

Pictographs need to include:

  • a title
  • a key (tells us what each picture means)
  • pictures (what picture or word will you use to represent each piece?)
  • labels

A pictograph about the favourite types of cupcakes and their flavours. In the pictograph, a whole cupcake equals to 10 people, and half a cupcake equals 5 people. For vanilla cupcakes, there are three whole cupcakes. For carrot cupcakes, there are 2 whole cupcakes and 1 half cupcake. For red velvet cupcakes, there are 4 whole cupcakes. For cookies and cream, there are 2 whole cupcakes. For chocolate cupcakes, there are 3 whole cupcakes and 1 half cupcake.

For example, the pictograph you explored in the previous section informed us of the “Favourite Types of Cupcakes.” One whole cupcake equals 10 people who like that flavour of cupcake. Half of a cupcake equals 5 people who like that flavour of cupcake. 30 people like vanilla cupcakes, 25 like carrot, 40 like red velvet, 20 like cookies and cream, and 35 people like chocolate.

Bar graphs

A bar graph includes:

  • a title for the whole graph
  • a label for the x-axis
  • a label for the y-axis
  • a scale – what will the numbers along the y-axis go up by? The numbers must go up by the same number interval each time.

For example, this bar graph shows the “Favourite Ocean Life of Grade 3 Learners.” The y-axis is labelled as ‘Number of learners,’ and goes up by a scale of 5. The x-axis is labelled as ‘Ocean life’ and has the choice ‘Jelly fish,’ ‘Shark,’ and ‘Coral reef’ labelled. The bar graph results are 'Jelly fish' with 10 learners, 'Sharks' with 12 learners, and 'Coral reef' with 14 learners.

Consolidation

Analyze a set of data

Thirty Grade 3 learners were asked, “What is your favourite type of movie?” The following chart lists their responses.

action action comedy comedy drama drama
drama action comedy sci-fi sci-fi comedy
action drama sci-fi sci-fi drama comedy
comedy action comedy comedy action drama
sci-fi sci-fi sci-fi comedy comedy comedy
  • Create a frequency table, or a detailed description to display the data.
  • Use that data to create a bar graph, a pictograph, or a detailed audio recording.
  • Why did you choose this graph for this set of data?
  • What are three conclusions you can make about the data?
  • If another group of learners were asked, do you think the data would be similar?

Create your bar graph using the bar graph interactive.

Complete Pictograph Chart in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document.

Favourite Type of Movie

Legend:

Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the Pictograph Chart. 

Activity (Open PDF in a new window)

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.