X Tables
Khan Academy Kids Maths

Khan Academy Kids early graphs maths mission

A practical mini-mission using early graphs to practise data through questions, examples and child-friendly challenges.

Quick answer

Early graphs help you sort and show information using pictures, bars, or tally marks so you can see patterns and answer questions easily.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will be able to use simple graphs to show and compare data. You will know how to:
  • Sort objects into categories
  • Draw or read simple picture graphs
  • Use tally marks to count
  • Answer questions using graph data

Why this matters

Graphs are like picture stories that help you understand information quickly. You use them every day, even if you don’t know it! When you see how many friends like pizza or how many toys you have, you're using graphs. Graphs help you:
  • See what’s most popular
  • Compare different things
  • Make decisions
  • Share your ideas clearly
In games like Khan Academy Kids, you might use graphs to show how many stars you’ve earned or how many animals you’ve counted. This helps you learn and have fun at the same time.

How it works

Graphs are a way to show information using pictures, bars, or tally marks. Here’s how to use them:
  1. Sort your data – Put things into groups (like red toys, blue toys, green toys).
  2. Choose a graph type – Use a picture graph, bar graph, or tally chart.
  3. Draw or read the graph – Show how many items are in each group.
  4. Answer questions – Use your graph to find out what it tells you.

Examples you can see

Let’s imagine you’re on a Khan Academy Kids maths mission and you’re helping a friendly robot named Zara collect data about her friends’ favourite fruits. Example 1: Picture Graph Zara asks her friends: “What’s your favourite fruit?” She gets these answers:
  • Apples: 4
  • Bananas: 3
  • Oranges: 5
  • Strawberries: 2
She draws a picture graph like this:
Fruit Picture Count
Apples 🍎🍎🍎🍎 4
Bananas 🍌🍌🍌 3
Oranges 🍊🍊🍊🍊🍊 5
Strawberries 🍓🍓 2
Example 2: Tally Chart Zara also asks her friends how many pets they have. She uses tally marks to count:
Pets Tally Count
1 pet |||| 4
2 pets |||| || 7
3 pets |||| ||| 8
4 pets || 2
Example 3: Bar Graph To show how many books each child read, Zara makes a bar graph:
Child Books
Ali |||
Bella |||||
Charlie ||
Daisy ||||

Try it as a mini adventure

Adventure: Zara’s Mission Zara is on a mission to collect data for her space robot team. She needs your help to make graphs for the following questions: 1st time: What’s your favourite snack?
  • Crackers: 3
  • Pretzels: 5
  • Chips: 2
  • Cookies: 4
Draw a picture graph to show this data. 2nd time: How many toys do you have?
  • 1–3 toys: 6
  • 4–6 toys: 5
  • 7–9 toys: 3
  • 10+ toys: 2
Make a bar graph. 3rd time: How many pets do you have?
  • 0 pets: 2
  • 1 pet: 5
  • 2 pets: 4
  • 3+ pets: 3
Use tally marks to count. 4th time: What’s your dream holiday destination?
  • Beach: 7
  • Mountain: 4
  • City: 5
  • Forest: 3
Create a picture graph. 5th time: How many books have you read this month?
  • 0–2 books: 3
  • 3–5 books: 6
  • 6–8 books: 4
  • 9+ books: 2
Make a bar graph.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Counting the same item twice in a graph.
    Why it happens: Getting confused about what to count.
    Fix: Go through your data one item at a time and double-check.
  • Mistake: Drawing the wrong number of pictures.
    Why it happens: Not matching the number correctly.
    Fix: Count carefully and match each picture to the number.
  • Mistake: Mixing up categories.
    Why it happens: Not paying attention to labels.
    Fix: Always read the labels and make sure each item belongs in the right group.

Parent and carer guide

You can help your child with early graphs in just 5–10 minutes:
  • Ask questions: “Which group has the most?” or “How many more are in this group than that one?”
  • Use real data: Count toys, snacks, or books together and make a graph.
  • Play with pictures: Draw or use stickers to make your own graph.
  • Encourage thinking: Let them explain their graph to you.
  • Don’t rush: Let them take their time and make mistakes – it’s part of learning!

Practice questions

  1. How many more apples than bananas are in this graph?
    Fruit Count
    Apples 6
    Bananas 3
    Answer: 3 more apples
  2. Which snack is the most popular?
    Snack Count
    Cookies 4
    Ice Cream 5
    Chocolate 3
    Answer: Ice Cream
  3. How many pets do 3 children have if each has 2 pets? Answer: 6 pets
  4. How many tally marks are needed for 9 items? Answer: |||| |||| |
  5. What is the total number of items in this graph?
    Toy Count
    Car 3
    Ball 5
    Doll 2
    Answer: 10 items

FAQ

What is a graph?
A graph is a way to show information using pictures, bars, or tally marks so you can see it easily.

Why do we use graphs?
Graphs help us compare things, see patterns, and understand data quickly.

How do I make a picture graph?
Draw one picture for each item in a category, like 3 apples = 🍎🍎🍎.

What is a tally chart?
A tally chart uses lines to count things quickly, with every 5th line going across.

Can I use graphs in real life?
Yes! You can use graphs to show your favourite ice cream, how many books you’ve read, or how many toys you have.