Primary 5 Foundation maths · Data & graphs · About 12 minutes
Read tables
Read the title, labels and key first. Then trace the requested entry or category.
Start the interactive lesson →Open practice activity
What you will learn
- Read tables
Models used: number sentences, stories, tables.
Before you start
Find where the row and column meet
A table records 3 apples and 5 pears. How do we find the number of pears?
Fruit counts. Read each value with the heading above its column.
Read the headings first. The first column names the fruit; the second gives its count.
Fruit counts Fruit Number of pieces Apples 3 Pears 5 Total 8 The row we are reading. Read each value with the heading above its column.
Find the Pears row, then move across to the count column. Keep the row and heading together.
The row we are reading Fruit Number of pieces Pears 5 The complete bar is the whole. Each labelled section is one part of it.
The entry is 5, so there are five pears. The heading tells us that 5 counts pieces of fruit.
3 + 5 = 8
Check the total. Read each value with the heading above its column.
Check the completed table: both fruit counts add to the total.
3 + 5 = 8
Check the total Fruit Number of pieces Apples 3 Pears 5 Total 8
What did the picture help us see?
Check the completed table: both fruit counts add to the total.
Worked example: A new example, together
What is the total across the four categories?
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Apples | 20 |
| Pears | 15 |
| Mangoes | 25 |
| Oranges | 15 |
Read the matching row and column. Read each value with the heading above its column.
Read the title, labels and key first. Then trace the requested entry or category.
Labels and scales determine the numerical value represented by each category.
Read the matching row and column Category Count Apples 20 Pears 15 Mangoes 25 Oranges 15 Read the matching row and column. Read each value with the heading above its column.
Match each value with its row and column.
Read the matching row and column Category Count Apples 20 Pears 15 Mangoes 25 Oranges 15 What is the total across the four categories?
75
Read the matching row and column. Read each value with the heading above its column.
Add all counts: 20 + 15 + 25 + 15.
Read the matching row and column Category Count Apples 20 Pears 15 Mangoes 25 Oranges 15 Read the matching row and column. Read each value with the heading above its column.
The answer is 75.
Read the matching row and column Category Count Apples 20 Pears 15 Mangoes 25 Oranges 15 Read the matching row and column. Read each value with the heading above its column.
Check the result against the question we started with.
75 is the sum of all four counts.
We found 75. Labels and scales determine the numerical value represented by each category.
Read the matching row and column Category Count Apples 20 Pears 15 Mangoes 25 Oranges 15
Common mistakes to discuss
- Reading the neighbouring row. Follow the row and the column to the entry they meet, and read its heading and unit.
Check your understanding
- Read tables
- read data values and comparisons using their labels and scale
- check the answer against the original quantities and units
Explain your reasoning to an adult, then try a fresh question in the interactive lesson. A result from one attempt is not proof of lasting mastery.
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