Pictograms

"What IS that?"

"I don't know, it's not the honey."

"Hmm, you know, might be our washing. It's probably time to change into a new set of clothes anyway."

"I can't believe it all fit."

"But how will we sort it all?!"

"We could make a scaled picture graph or pictogram to help us organize our clean clothes."

Drawing a Scaled Pictogram

A pictogram is a chart that uses pictures to represent and sort information into categories. Pictogram means picture graph! In a SCALED pictogram, the value of one picture represents MORE THAN one item so we can see a lot of information at once. To start our first pictogram, we'll need to find ALL of Nari's clean clothes in that pile. This is called our DATA SET! Next, we need to give this graph a name. Since the data set includes all of Nari's clean washing, let's call it, "Nari's Clothes" Next, we sort and count Nari's clothes into categories like t-shirts, trousers, and pajamas. These three categories let us know we need to draw three rows in our graph. Now, we'll make a key for our picture graph using a hanger to represent our clothing items. REMEMBER, we are making a SCALED pictogram so one hanger represents MORE THAN one piece of clothing.
Let's add a key at the bottom of the graph to tell readers that each hanger will represent TWO pieces of clothing, because most of the data can be made counting in 2s. We can also say they are multiples of two. Finally, it's time to fill in our pictogram! Remember, each hanger represents TWO pieces of clothing and Nari has SIX t-shirts. Let's count together in two's. Two, four, six. So, we'll need to put THREE hangers in the t-shirts row because two goes into six THREE times. Let's do the same thing for his trousers! How many times does two go into four? Two goes into four two times so that means we will need two hangers in the trousers row. Let's be careful with our three pajamas though because two does NOT go evenly into three. One hanger represents two pajamas, so we can use HALF a hanger to represent the one left over. Now that Nari's scaled pictogram is complete, we should help Gus! Our new data set is all of Gus's clean clothes. What should we title this graph? "Gus's Clothes" since it's HIS clean washing. Next, we sort and count Gus's clothes into t-shirts, trousers, and pajamas. Then, we draw the chart for our graph and add our labels. This time let's pick a peg to represent our clothing items. REMEMBER, we are making a SCALED pictogram so one peg represents MORE THAN one piece of clothing.
Gus has SIX t-shirts, NINE pairs of trousers and THREE pajamas so how many items could one peg represent? All of those numbers are multiples of three, so one peg will represent three pieces of clothing. Now we're ready to fill in his graph! Gus has six t-shirts and three goes into six two times. We will put two pegs in that row. Now let's repeat this for the rest. Gus has nine pairs of trousers and three goes into nine THREE times. We will need THREE pegs next to the trousers label.
How many pegs will we need for Gus's three pajamas? We will use one peg because one peg represents three items of clothing. Look! All of their clothes are sorted and organized, but before we see what Nari and Gus put on, let's remember!

"When drawing a scaled pictogram, first identify and name your data set."

Then, sort your “data” into categories and draw your chart.

Next, define your scaled symbols by looking for common multiples and note it with a key. Finally, plot your data into the graph according to your key. "Great work today, Gus; let's put on our fresh, clean clothes!" "Ahhhhh, so comfy!" "I dunno, Nari, feels a bit tight."