4th Grade Math Lesson

Shell Lengths & Sea Creatures: Line Plots with Fractional Data

Shared by A STEM Educator

4th GradeBTC Vertical Whiteboard FramingCCSS.4.MD.B.450 min

Learning Objective

Students will be able to construct a line plot with a fractional scale (halves, fourths, and eighths) to display measurement data, and solve addition and subtraction word problems using data from a line plot.

Lesson Overview

Students work in random groups of 3 at vertical whiteboards (VNPS) to progress from reading pre-built fractional line plots to constructing their own line plots with eighths and solving multi-step addition and subtraction problems using marine biology measurement data.

Materials

Vertical whiteboards or large chart paper (one per group)
Dry-erase markers (multiple colors per group)
Erasers or paper towels
Random grouping cards or name-draw tool
Task cards (one set per group, posted or distributed sequentially)
Rulers for drawing number lines
Printed Four-Quadrant Note Sheets (one per student)

Scaffolded Task Progression

1Task 1

The marine biology team recorded the lengths of

8

shells on this line plot. Use it to answer the questions.

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

Tick marks are at:

\frac{1}{4}

\frac{2}{4}

\frac{3}{4}

1

1. How many shells measured

\frac{1}{2}

inch?
2. Which length had the most shells?
3. How many shells were measured in total?

2Task 2

The research team measured

10

more shells. Here is the line plot — but the scale is now in eighths.

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

Tick marks (left to right):

\frac{1}{8}

\frac{2}{8}

\frac{3}{8}

\frac{4}{8}

\frac{5}{8}

\frac{6}{8}

\frac{7}{8}

1

1. How many shells measured

\frac{4}{8}

of an inch?
2. What is the shortest shell length recorded?
3. How many shells are longer than

\frac{4}{8}

inch?

Unlock the full lesson

See all 7 scaffolded tasks, the full answer key, warm-up, exit slip, and a print-ready version — free to start.

Create a free account

Already have an account? Sign in

Make it your own

Like this lesson but want to tweak it?

Make an editable copy and adjust the tasks, warm-up, and answer key to fit your class — no need to start from scratch.

Generate a new lesson