Tally Mark Trackers: Counting with Lines!

Mathematics Grades 2nd Grade 6:03 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn how to use tally marks to keep track of numbers and organize information like a pro!

Video Resource

How To Keep Track With Tally Marks | How To Use Tally Marks | Kids Academy

Kids Academy

Duration: 6:03
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Tally marks represent numbers.
  • A group of five tally marks is represented by four vertical lines and one diagonal line.
  • Tally marks help organize data and count efficiently.
  • Data is information that can be in numbers or pictures.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to correctly represent numbers using tally marks.
  • Students will be able to count groups of tally marks, including groups of five.
  • Students will be able to use tally marks to organize information from a given set of data.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students what they already know about counting. Introduce the idea of tally marks as a special way to count and keep track of things. Show the video to provide a visual explanation of tally marks.
  • Guided Practice (10 mins)
    After watching the video, review what a tally mark is and how to represent numbers 1-5. Practice making tally marks together as a class for numbers like 3, 5, 7, and 10. Ask students to explain how they know how many tally marks to draw.
  • Independent Practice (15 mins)
    Provide students with a worksheet showing different groups of objects (e.g., fruits, animals, shapes). Have them use tally marks to count how many are in each group. Then, have them circle the correct number represented by tally marks.
  • Wrap Up (5 mins)
    Review the main concepts of the lesson. Ask students when they think tally marks might be useful in real life (e.g., counting votes, keeping score in a game). Have students share their answers with the class.

Interactive Exercises

  • Tally Mark Challenge
    Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of small objects (e.g., cubes, counters). Have them use tally marks to count and record the number of each type of object. The group that accurately counts and records the data the fastest wins!
  • Real Life Tallying
    Have the class choose their favorite fruit, color, or animal. Use tally marks to create a chart of each of their favorite answers. Have them count the tally marks to see which item is the class favorite!

Discussion Questions

  • What is a tally mark?
  • How many tally marks do you draw to show the number 3?
  • How do you show the number 5 using tally marks?
  • When might you use tally marks in real life?

Skills Developed

  • Counting
  • Data organization
  • Visual representation of numbers
  • Problem-solving

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What does one tally mark mean?

Correct Answer: One

Question 2:

How do we show the number 5 with tally marks?

Correct Answer: |||||

Question 3:

How many tally marks are in this group: ||||?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 4:

Which of these shows the number 7 with tally marks?

Correct Answer: ||||| ||

Question 5:

What do we call information that is shown in numbers or pictures?

Correct Answer: Data

Question 6:

If you see a group of tally marks that looks like |||||, how many is that?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 7:

You used tally marks to count your favorite ice cream flavors. What are you doing?

Correct Answer: Organizing Data

Question 8:

Which number has the most tally marks: 3 or 5?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 9:

If you count 6 flowers, how many tally marks do you need?

Correct Answer: 6

Question 10:

Which group of tally marks shows the biggest number?

Correct Answer: |||||

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

We use _____ _____ to help us count things.

Correct Answer: tally marks

Question 2:

A group of five tally marks looks like |||| and a line going _____

Correct Answer: across

Question 3:

When we count with tally marks, we are keeping track of ______.

Correct Answer: numbers

Question 4:

The number 1 is shown with just ____ tally mark.

Correct Answer: one

Question 5:

_____ is another word for information.

Correct Answer: data

Question 6:

To show the number 9, you need 1 group of 5 and then add ____ more lines

Correct Answer: four

Question 7:

||||| |||| is _____

Correct Answer: 10

Question 8:

If your friend has the tally marks |||||, she has _____ objects

Correct Answer: five

Question 9:

To count faster we can count by groups of _____

Correct Answer: five

Question 10:

Use tally marks to count things helps us _____ data

Correct Answer: organize

Educational Standards

2.D.1:Collect, organize, and interpret data. 2.D.1.2:Organize a collection of data with up to four categories using pictographs and bar graphs in intervals of 1s, 2s, 5s or 10s. 2.N.1.1:Read, write, discuss, and represent whole numbers up to 1,000. Representations should include, but are not limited to, numerals, words, pictures, tally marks, number lines, and manipulatives.

Teaching Materials

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