Line Plots with Fractions of a Unit

5th Grade MathMeasurement and Data4 pages

About this worksheet

This 5th grade math worksheet builds a line plot from fractional measurements and then makes the plot earn its keep (Common Core 5.MD.2). A science class recorded the water in eight identical beakers, in eighths, quarters and halves of a cup. Students plot the eight values as stacked X marks, read off the most frequent measurement, find the 5/8-cup spread between fullest and emptiest, total the water at exactly 3 cups, and finish with the standard's signature move: redistributing everything equally to get 3/8 cup per beaker.

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$Line Plots with Fractions of a Unit: Measurement and Data - page 1$

$Line Plots with Fractions of a Unit: Measurement and Data - page 2$

$Line Plots with Fractions of a Unit: Measurement and Data - page 3$

$Line Plots with Fractions of a Unit: Measurement and Data - page 4$

Curriculum objectives covered

5.MD.2

“Make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8). Use operations on fractions for this grade to solve problems involving information presented in line plots. For example, given different measurements of liquid in identical beakers, find the amount of liquid each beaker would contain if the total amount in all the beakers were redistributed equally.”

The sheet is this standard end to end: students make the plot from eighths data, then question 5 performs the exact redistribution scenario the standard describes, pouring all the beakers together and sharing the 3 cups equally.

What's inside this worksheet

Lab Data: Water Volumes

A table records the eight beaker readings, from 1/8 cup in beakers A, D and F up to 3/4 cup in beaker E, mixing denominators of 2, 4 and 8.

Part 1: Make the Line Plot

Students draw an X above the matching fraction for each beaker on a number line marked in eighths from 0 to 1, stacking the three 1/8 readings into a tower.

Part 2: Interpret and Calculate

Five questions escalate: the mode (1/8 cup), how many beakers hold at least 1/2 cup (four), the greatest-to-least difference (6/8 - 1/8 = 5/8 cup), the 24/8 = 3 cup total, and the equal redistribution to 3/8 cup per beaker.

Answer key

The key lists the mark count above every eighth on the plot, then works each calculation, including the conversion of all eight readings to eighths before adding.

How teachers use it

Science lesson pairing

Measure real colored water into eight beakers first and let students generate their own table before switching to this one. The plot means more when the data was theirs an hour earlier.

Checking the at-least question

Question 2 catches students who read the plot as separate towers. The answer needs three columns combined (1/2, 5/8 and 3/4), so ask for the count and the columns it came from.

Redistribution as fair share

Frame question 5 as a fairness argument: some beakers hold six times what others do. Students who can defend 3/8 cup each have connected division to data, which is the point of 5.MD.2.

More 5th Grade Math worksheets

Operations with Fractions Place Value and Decimals Geometry Order of Operations

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