Read the key first!
In a pictogram, each picture (symbol) stands for a number of things. The key tells you how many.
Ice creams sold
| Monday | 🍦🍦🍦 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 🍦🍦 |
| Wednesday | 🍦🍦🍦🍦 |
Key: 🍦 = 2 ice creams
- Key: 🍦 = 2 ice creams
- Monday: 3 symbols → 3 × 2 = 6
- Tuesday: 1½ symbols → 2 + 1 = 3 (a half symbol is half the key)
Parts of a symbol
| Key | Half a symbol | Quarter of a symbol |
|---|---|---|
| 🍦 = 2 | 1 | not used |
| 🍦 = 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 🍦 = 10 | 5 | 2.5 (usually avoided) |
Working with pictograms
- How many altogether? Count all the symbols, then multiply by the key.
- How many more? Find both amounts, then subtract.
- Drawing one: divide the number by the key to find how many symbols to draw.
Watch out! Counting the symbols isn’t the answer, unless the key is 1. Always multiply by the key.
Top tip: find the half symbols first, and turn each one into half of the key.
🎮 Books readQuestion 1 of 5
Books read by each class
| P4 | 📘📘📘📘📘 |
|---|---|
| P5 | 📘📘📘📘 |
| P6 | 📘📘📘📘📘📘📘 |
| P7 | 📘📘📘📘📘 |
Key: 📘 = 4 books
How many books did P4 read?
🎮 Getting to schoolQuestion 1 of 3
How P6 get to school
| Walk | 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 |
|---|---|
| Car | 🙂🙂🙂 |
| Bus | 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 |
| Bike | 🙂🙂 |
Key: 🙂 = 2 children