Math3-5

Reading Bar Charts: District Language Distribution

By Karen M.

A one-page chart-reading worksheet for 5th graders that shows how many students in a district speak each of 17 home languages. Students practice reading a horizontal bar chart, using the scale and counting by 5s, and answering comprehension questions about the data.

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Teacher Guide & Tips

Use this as a 20-30 minute math or data-literacy warm-up, having students first read the "Reading a Bar Chart" box together before they tackle the graph.
Discussion question: Why might a bar chart be a better way than a list of numbers to compare how many students speak each language?
Scaffold for struggling readers: Pair them with a partner and have them trace one bar with a finger down to the scale before estimating its value.
Extension for advanced students: Ask them to calculate what percentage of the 71 students speak Spanish and to write one question about the data that the chart cannot answer.
Estimated time: About 20-30 minutes, including discussion of the questions.

Math3-5

Reading Bar Charts: District Language Distribution

By Karen M.

Open in Diffit

Customize for your classroom

Teacher Guide & Tips

Use this as a 20-30 minute math or data-literacy warm-up, having students first read the "Reading a Bar Chart" box together before they tackle the graph.
Discussion question: Why might a bar chart be a better way than a list of numbers to compare how many students speak each language?
Scaffold for struggling readers: Pair them with a partner and have them trace one bar with a finger down to the scale before estimating its value.
Extension for advanced students: Ask them to calculate what percentage of the 71 students speak Spanish and to write one question about the data that the chart cannot answer.
Estimated time: About 20-30 minutes, including discussion of the questions.

Teacher Guide & Tips

Use this as a 20-30 minute math or data-literacy warm-up, having students first read the "Reading a Bar Chart" box together before they tackle the graph.

Discussion question: Why might a bar chart be a better way than a list of numbers to compare how many students speak each language?

Scaffold for struggling readers: Pair them with a partner and have them trace one bar with a finger down to the scale before estimating its value.

Extension for advanced students: Ask them to calculate what percentage of the 71 students speak Spanish and to write one question about the data that the chart cannot answer.

Estimated time: About 20-30 minutes, including discussion of the questions.

Teacher Guide & Tips

Use this as a 20-30 minute math or data-literacy warm-up, having students first read the "Reading a Bar Chart" box together before they tackle the graph.

Discussion question: Why might a bar chart be a better way than a list of numbers to compare how many students speak each language?

Scaffold for struggling readers: Pair them with a partner and have them trace one bar with a finger down to the scale before estimating its value.

Extension for advanced students: Ask them to calculate what percentage of the 71 students speak Spanish and to write one question about the data that the chart cannot answer.

Estimated time: About 20-30 minutes, including discussion of the questions.