Bar Graph Explorers: Solving Picture Puzzles!

Math Grades 1st Grade 1:42 Video
Print Lesson Plan Watch Video

Lesson Description

Learn how to read and solve problems using bar graphs! We'll compare bars to find out 'how many more' using subtraction.

Video Resource

Solving problems with bar graphs 2 | Measurement and data | Early Math | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Duration: 1:42
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Bar graphs represent data visually.
  • Each bar's height shows a quantity.
  • Subtraction can be used to compare quantities in a bar graph.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to read and interpret data from a bar graph.
  • Students will be able to compare quantities represented in a bar graph using subtraction.
  • Students will be able to answer 'how many more' questions using bar graph data.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they know about graphs. Have they seen graphs before? What did they show? Explain that today they will be learning about bar graphs and how they help us compare things.
  • Video Viewing (5 mins)
    Play the Khan Academy video: 'Solving problems with bar graphs 2'. Instruct students to pay close attention to how the narrator reads the bar graph and solves the problem.
  • Guided Practice (10 mins)
    After the video, review the example problem with the class. Ask students to identify the important information. Guide them through setting up the subtraction problem (19-12=7).
  • Independent Practice (10 mins)
    Present a new bar graph (you can draw one on the board or use a printed worksheet) showing different numbers of animals on a farm (e.g., cows, pigs, chickens). Ask students to answer questions like: 'How many more cows are there than pigs?' Have them write down their subtraction problem and the answer.
  • Wrap-up (5 mins)
    Review the answers to the independent practice questions. Discuss any challenges students faced. Emphasize that bar graphs help us see and compare numbers easily.

Interactive Exercises

  • Class Graph
    Create a simple bar graph as a class. Ask students to choose their favorite color and record the answers on a class bar graph. Then, ask questions like: 'Which color is the most popular? How many more students like blue than red?'

Discussion Questions

  • What does a bar graph show us?
  • How can we use a bar graph to compare different things?
  • When do we use subtraction to solve problems with bar graphs?

Skills Developed

  • Data interpretation
  • Subtraction
  • Problem-solving

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What does a bar graph help us do?

Correct Answer: Compare things

Question 2:

If one bar is taller than another, what does that mean?

Correct Answer: It's more

Question 3:

What math sign do we use to find 'how many more'?

Correct Answer: -

Question 4:

A bar graph shows 5 apples and 2 bananas. How many MORE apples are there than bananas?

Correct Answer: 3

Question 5:

A bar graph shows 8 dogs and 4 cats. What do you need to do to find out how many MORE dogs there are?

Correct Answer: Subtract 4 from 8

Question 6:

What is the first thing you should do when looking at a bar graph?

Correct Answer: Look at the title

Question 7:

A bar graph shows 10 red cars and 6 blue cars. How many more red cars are there?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 8:

If two bars on a graph are the same height, it means:

Correct Answer: They are equal

Question 9:

The numbers on the side of the bar graph tell us:

Correct Answer: The amount

Question 10:

A bar graph shows 9 fish and 3 turtles. How many more fish are there than turtles?

Correct Answer: 6

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A _________ graph uses bars to show information.

Correct Answer: bar

Question 2:

We can _________ to find out 'how many more'.

Correct Answer: subtract

Question 3:

The taller the bar, the _________ the number.

Correct Answer: bigger

Question 4:

If a bar shows 7 and another shows 2, we do 7 ____ 2 to find how many more.

Correct Answer: -

Question 5:

A bar graph helps us _________ different things.

Correct Answer: compare

Question 6:

The ________ of the bar graph tells us what the graph is about.

Correct Answer: title

Question 7:

If you have 10 cookies and your friend has 4 cookies, you have _________ more cookies.

Correct Answer: 6

Question 8:

When you subtract, the answer is called the _________.

Correct Answer: difference

Question 9:

We read the numbers on the _________ of the bar graph.

Correct Answer: side

Question 10:

If there are 8 cats and 2 dogs, there are _________ fewer dogs than cats.

Correct Answer: 6

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.MD.C.4:Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another. CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.A.1:Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

Teaching Materials

Download ready-to-use materials for this lesson:

Student Worksheet Classroom Slides Assessment Quiz Export to Google Docs
Add to Google Classroom

User Actions

Sign in to save this lesson plan to your favorites.

Sign In

Share This Lesson

Related Lesson Plans