Statistics - Draw bar charts activity - Planning

In Year 3, the second week of Spring term statistics introduces students to the concept of drawing bar charts. With the help of squared or graph paper and dice, the children embark on an interactive journey to understand and create their own bar charts. The lesson begins with a small step starter where children recap previous learning and discuss their understanding of bar charts, tally charts, and pictograms. Key vocabulary such as 'bar chart', 'tally chart', 'interval', and 'scale' are highlighted, with additional resources like vocabulary cards available on the website.

The class teaching input guides the children through the process of identifying the components of a bar chart, including the importance of a scale to interpret data accurately. Through a series of slides, the children explore how different scales can affect the presentation of data and the significance of choosing an appropriate scale based on the largest number in the data set. After discussing and drawing a bar chart together using provided data, the children move on to independent learning where they create their own bar charts using dice rolls. The plenary involves a 'Give me five' reflection activity where students assess what they've learned, the skills they've used, and what they found challenging. The lesson is differentiated to cater to various levels of understanding, from those 'working towards' who may need help with scales, to those 'working at expected' who can choose an appropriate scale, and finally, those 'working at greater depth' who can delve into the implications of changing scales and formulate more complex questions about their charts.