5th Grade Math Lesson

Growing Data: Line Plots with Fractional Measurements

Shared by A STEM Educator

5th GradeUniversal Design for LearningCCSS.MATH.CONTENT.5.MD.B.245 min

Learning Objective

Students will construct and interpret line plots displaying fractional measurement data (halves, quarters, eighths) and use those plots to solve real-world problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions, with multiple entry points and expression pathways to ensure access for all learners.

Lesson Overview

Students collect, organize, and interpret fractional measurement data on line plots, using a science experiment context (plant growth and liquid volumes) to make the math meaningful and concrete.

Materials

Paper and pencil (already on desks)
Whiteboard and markers (teacher-facing)
Ruler (one per student — standard school supply)

Scaffolded Task Progression

1Task 1

Warm-Up: Build Your Ruler Number Line

Draw a straight horizontal line across your paper. Label the left end

0

and the right end

1

.

1. Mark and label

\frac{1}{2}

in the middle.
2. Now find and label

\frac{1}{4}

and

\frac{3}{4}

.
3. Finally, mark all eight eighths:

\frac{1}{8}

\frac{2}{8}

\frac{3}{8}

\frac{4}{8}

\frac{5}{8}

\frac{6}{8}

\frac{7}{8}

.

Tip: Use your real ruler to check — the inch marks are already divided into eighths!

After marking, answer: Which two eighths marks are in the same spot as

\frac{1}{4}

and

\frac{3}{4}

?

[ Interactive graph / diagram, available in the full lesson ]

2Task 2

Reading a Line Plot: What Does Each X Mean?

A class measured how much water evaporated from science beakers over one week. Here is their line plot:

[ Interactive graph / diagram, available in the full lesson ]

Answer these questions:
1. How many beakers evaporated exactly

\frac{3}{8}

cup?
2. What is the most common evaporation amount?
3. How many beakers were measured in total?
4. Are there any amounts between

0

and

\frac{2}{8}

that no beaker had? What does that gap mean?

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