The lesson plan is for a second grade math class. Students will create a pictograph of classmates' birthdays by decorating paper birthday cakes with their names and months. The cakes will then be displayed in a bar graph on the classroom wall organized by month. Students will study the graph to identify patterns and compare numbers of birthdays per month using terms like least, most, equal, and zero. To assess learning, students will complete a worksheet graphing birthday data.

1. Lesson Plan
Lesson Title Subject Area Grade Level Unit Title Benchmarks
Birthday Graph Math Second Graphing/Pictograph Review/Introduction
s D.RE.02.01
D.RE.02.02
Objectives Hook for students Assessment
To make a Make your own Bar graph
pictograph of the birthday cake worksheet.
birthday’s in our
class.
Sequence of Activities
1. 15 minutes (Day 1) - Each student will receive a blank template of a birthday cake. They
may decorate the cake any way they would like.
2. Collect the cakes when complete. Teacher will clearly label the cakes w/ students’
birthdays, and laminate.
3. Using a large wall in the classroom, make a banner with the title “Our Birthday Graph”, and
also label the months of the year. Arrange the completed cakes in a bar graph.
4. (Day 2) – When the birthday graph is complete, study the graph with the students. Go
over each month and count the birthdays – point out similarities and differences. Talk
about ‘least’, ‘most’, ‘equal’, zero.
5. 20-25 minutes – Hand out the birthday graph worksheet and allow students to complete
individually. Monitor completion and offer assistance when/where needed.
Teacher Created Handouts
Birthday cake template
Birthday graph worksheet
Quality Student Sample
2 samples attached