- Definition
A bar graph uses separate blocks (bars) to show how often different things happen, like how many kids prefer apples over bananas. The gaps between the bars mean each thing is counted individually.
On a graph of favorite pets, the tallest bar above 'dog' shows that dogs are the most popular choice.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A bar graph is like building towers of blocks to see which colour you have the most of.
Ask your child: Which bar is the tallest, and what does it tell us?
Common mix-up: Kids might just see the tallest bar as the 'winner.' The key is to read the labels to see what category the bar is showing.
Examples
- A bar graph showing that there were 10 sunny days and 4 rainy days last month.
- A graph showing how many kids chose milk, juice, or water for lunch.
bar graph is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
+8 more mentions across the curriculum
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
