- Definition
A stem-and-leaf plot is a way to organize numbers by splitting each number into a "stem" (like the tens digit) and a "leaf" (like the ones digit), making it easy to see all the numbers and how they're spread out.
In a plot of test scores, a stem of '8' with leaves '2, 4, 5' represents the scores 82, 84, and 85.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A stem-and-leaf plot is like a tree where the big branches are the tens place (the stem), and the individual leaves on each branch are the ones place (the leaf).
Ask your child: Looking at this plot, which 'branch' has the most 'leaves'?
Common mix-up: Kids might read a leaf by itself, like '5'. Each leaf is actually the end of a number that starts with its stem, so a '5' on the '7' stem means 75.
Examples
- A stem of '6' with leaves '4, 8, 8' shows the scores 64, 68, and another 68.
- A stem of '9' with only one leaf, '2', represents a single score of 92.
stem-and-leaf plot is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
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 ↗
