Math lesson plan · 5th grade (Year 6 in England) · 45 minutes
Line graphs
Statistics and probability
CCSS 5.G.A.2England: Y5 StatisticsEngland: Y6 Statistics
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Line graphs.
- 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: Line plots and tables; Coordinates in the first quadrant
Leads to: Read changes and trends from a line graph
Materials: Squared paper for charts, Class survey data, Sticky notes for a live chart, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Line plots and tables; Coordinates in the first quadrant). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 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? → 11Prompt: Each × is one leaf.
- Liam 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? → 17Prompt: Each × is one leaf.
- 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? → 13Prompt: Each × is one leaf.
Hook · 5 min
- Take a quick class survey (favorite fruit, travel to school) and ask what the results tell us.
- Share the objective: Line graphs. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: A line graph shows the number of trees planted each year: 2020: 25, 2021: 22, 2022: 36, 2023: 15, 2024: 17. In which year were the most trees planted?
- Step 1: The highest value is 36, in 2022.
- Answer: 2022
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- A line graph shows the number of trees planted each year: 2020: 20, 2021: 35, 2022: 32, 2023: 23, 2024: 17. In which year were the most trees planted? (2020 / 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024) → 2021Prompt: Find the highest point on the line.
- A line graph shows the number of trees planted each year: 2020: 23, 2021: 25, 2022: 14, 2023: 11, 2024: 35. In which year were the most trees planted? (2020 / 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024) → 2024Prompt: Find the highest point on the line.
You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- A line graph shows the number of trees planted each year: 2020: 5, 2021: 25, 2022: 18, 2023: 28, 2024: 9. In which year were the most trees planted? (2020 / 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024) → 2023Prompt: Find the highest point on the line.
- A line graph shows the number of trees planted each year: 2020: 36, 2021: 27, 2022: 32, 2023: 27, 2024: 8. In which year were the most trees planted? (2020 / 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024) → 2020Prompt: Find the highest point on the line.
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: Line plots and tables.
- 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: Read changes and trends from a line graph.
- 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-5.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder