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Math lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes

Line plots and tables

Statistics and probability

CCSS 4.MD.B.4CCSS 5.MD.B.2England: Y4 Statistics

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Line plots and tables.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Scaled bar graphs and pictograms; Add and subtract fractions with like denominators

Leads to: Line graphs; Line plots with fractions of a unit; Recognise statistical questions

Materials: Squared paper for charts, Class survey data, Sticky notes for a live chart, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Scaled bar graphs and pictograms; Add and subtract fractions with like denominators). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. In Ethan's pictogram, each ★ stands for 10 books. The row for "Mystery" shows 7 stars. How many mystery books is that? → 70Prompt: Multiply the number of whole stars by 10.
  2. In Ana's pictogram, each ★ stands for 10 books. The row for "Mystery" shows 2 stars. How many mystery books is that? → 20Prompt: Multiply the number of whole stars by 10.
  3. In Mateo's pictogram, each ★ stands for 5 books. The row for "Mystery" shows 4 stars. How many mystery books is that? → 20Prompt: Multiply the number of whole stars by 5.

Hook · 3 min

  • Take a quick class survey (favorite fruit, travel to school) and ask what the results tell us.
  • Share the objective: Line plots and tables. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Leo measured some leaves (in inches) and made a line plot: 1/4: ×, 2/4: ××, 3/4: ×××, 4/4: ×××××. How many leaves were measured in total?
  • Step 1: 1 + 2 + 3 + 5 = 11
  • Answer: 11
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Maya measured some leaves (in inches) and made a line plot: 1/4: ××, 2/4: ×××××, 3/4: ×, 4/4: –. How many leaves were measured in total? → 8Prompt: Each × is one leaf.
  2. Aisha measured some leaves (in inches) and made a line plot: 1/4: ××, 2/4: ××××, 3/4: ××××, 4/4: ×××××. How many leaves were measured in total? → 15Prompt: Each × is one leaf.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Zoe measured some leaves (in inches) and made a line plot: 1/4: ×××, 2/4: –, 3/4: ××××××, 4/4: –. How many leaves were measured in total? → 9Prompt: Each × is one leaf.
  2. Isla measured some leaves (in inches) and made a line plot: 1/4: ××, 2/4: ×, 3/4: ××××, 4/4: –. How many leaves were measured in total? → 7Prompt: Each × is one leaf.

Watch out for

  • Forgetting to put data in order before finding the median.
  • Reading a bar's height wrongly when the scale goes up in 2s or 5s.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Scaled bar graphs and pictograms.
  • Use concrete materials: squared paper for charts.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Line graphs; Line plots with fractions of a unit; Recognise statistical questions.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

Line plots and tables

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    A café sold these numbers of muffins: Mon 16, Tue 36, Wed 39, Thu 30. How many muffins were sold on Mon and Thu together?

    01020304016Mon36Tue39Wed30Thu

    Answer

  2. Question 2

    Ines measured some leaves (in inches) and made a line plot: 1/4: ××××××, 2/4: ×, 3/4: –, 4/4: ××××. How many leaves were measured in total?

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    A café sold these numbers of muffins: Mon 59, Tue 20, Wed 26, Thu 18. How many muffins were sold on Thu and Wed together?

    010203040506059Mon20Tue26Wed18Thu

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    Luis measured some leaves (in inches) and made a line plot: 1/4: ××××, 2/4: ×××××, 3/4: ××, 4/4: ××. How many leaves were measured in total?

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    A café sold these numbers of muffins: Mon 16, Tue 18, Wed 18, Thu 57. How many muffins were sold on Wed and Thu together?

    010203040506016Mon18Tue18Wed57Thu

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    Lucia measured some leaves (in inches) and made a line plot: 1/4: ×××, 2/4: ×××, 3/4: ××, 4/4: ×. How many leaves were measured in total?

    Answer

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Answer key: Line plots and tables

  1. 1. 46

  2. 2. 11

  3. 3. 44

  4. 4. 13

  5. 5. 75

  6. 6. 9