Dear Parent,
During the next week, your child will design surveys to collect data; sort and
organize data using Venn diagrams and tally charts; represent data by creating
pictographs and bar graphs with scales of 2, 5, and 10; and describe and interpret
bar graphs, pictographs, and circle graphs. Your child will explore what makes a
survey question a good one, how best to organize and display a given data set,
and what sorts of things a graph can tell us.
Throughout this time, you and your child can practise some activities such as the
following:
• Your child can count some items that come in large quantities (e.g., straws) and
create a pictograph with a scale of 10 to represent the items.
• Your child can design a question, conduct a survey, tally the results, and display
the data in a bar graph. For example, they could ask, “How many of my books
do I want to read, or read again: soon, someday, or never?” and then interpret
the results.
• Your child could look in the media for examples of bar graphs with scales and tell
you 3 or 4 things the graph shows. The scale might be larger than 10; they could
discuss why the scale used is appropriate.
• When sharing a circular item, such as a pie, encourage your child to compare the
sizes of slices (cut from the centre); this is similar to a circle graph.
You may also want to visit the Nelson Web Site at www.mathk8.nelson.com for
more suggestions to help your child learn mathematics and develop a positive
attitude towards learning mathematics, and for books that relate children’s literature
to data management. Also check the Web site for links to other Web sites that
provide online tutorials, math problems, and brainteasers.
Reminder: math quiz on Tuesday in sha'Allah
JAK
