4th grade · Math · Unit 16 of 17
Line Plots & Data
Read data in fractions
What your child practices
Reading tables of measurements in halves, fourths and eighths of an inch, finding differences, comparing two classes, and choosing questions that need data.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) teks student expectation: 4.9(A); 4.9(B) · dot plots with whole numbers and fractions, and solving problems with their data
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practice.
- A line plot or table shows how many things have each measurement.
- To compare lengths, subtract fractions with the same denominator.
- To compare groups, look at the same row in each group.
Example: The longest ribbon is 7/8 in and the shortest is 3/8 in. What is the difference? 7/8 − 3/8 = 4/8. 4/8 = 1/2. Answer: 1/2 inch
Line Plots & Data in Texas
In the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), this is unit 16 of 17 in 4th grade Math, after Feet, Pounds & Gallons and before Expenses, Profit & Banks.
Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.
Source: Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
All the pieces that are 1/4 inch long are laid end to end. How long is that?
Snail trail (inches) Length (in) How many 1/4 1 1/2 3 3/4 2 - 5/4 in
- 1/4 in
- 0 in
- 1/2 in
1/4 in
Hint: 1 pieces × 1/4 inch = 1/4 inch.
Question 2
How many more students in Room 7 than in Room 4 chose four square?
Favorite recess game Game Room 4 Room 7 four square 3 4 basketball 3 12 jump rope 5 11 - 0
- 1
- 4
- 7
1
Hint: Room 7: 4. Room 4: 3. Subtract.
Question 3
Which question needs data with many different answers?
- What are the heights of the bean plants in our garden?
- How tall am I?
- What day is it today?
- What is 8 × 7?
What are the heights of the bean plants in our garden?
Hint: A data question has answers that vary, so you collect many of them.
Question 4
What is the difference between the longest and the shortest length?
Plant growth (inches) Length (in) How many 1/2 3 5/8 2 3/4 4 - 1/4 in
- 5/4 in
- 1/8 in
- 3/8 in
1/4 in
Hint: Subtract: 3/4 − 1/2.
Question 5
How many are 3/4 inch long?
Ribbon (inches) Length (in) How many 1/4 1 1/2 6 3/4 5 - 2
- 6
- 4
- 5
5
Hint: Find the row for that length.
Question 6
How many were measured in all?
Ribbon (inches) Length (in) How many 1/4 2 1/2 3 3/4 4 - 9
- 11
- 7
- 12
9
Hint: Add the counts: 2 + 3 + 4.