Standard 4.MD.4 – Line Plots

4.MD.4

Make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8). Solve problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions by using information presented in line plots. For example, from a line plot find and interpret the difference in length between the longest and shortest specimens in an insect collection.

Explanation: Line plot can be confusing to some students, but they are really quite simple. Students just put an X to represent each item. Say you have 5 students at a table named Jeff, Nick, Sally, Ben, and Jessica. And say you are recording how many pencils they each have. A number line may have numbers from 1 to 5. Just put an X to represent how many each student has. If Jeff has 2 pencils, put an X above the 2.  Say Nick also has 2 pencils. Then you would put another X above that one. All they are doing is marking how many each person has. Then, they may be asked questions like, “How many more pencils does the student with the most pencils have than the student with the least pencils?” 

Many of the line plots will deal with fractions. Check out the videos below to see more examples.


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