I LOVE teaching line plots with fractions! I have always teaching fractions on a number line first and teach them how to read and understand how number lines work. Once they have an understanding, I teach how to plot the data.
I have found that many students have the same issue with line plots, and it is understanding what the questions are asking. The biggest misconception I've found is that when the questions asks, "What is the longest length?" the students will pick the fraction with the most data points. I have to go over and over and over this with the kids and tell them to read carefully! Especially the ESL students who struggle with vocabulary, they tend to really have a hard time understanding the difference between the most common length and the longest length.
To help with this I cut straws and had the students measure them and plot the on the number line. They LOVED the hands on aspect of it and got a measurement mini lesson! Once the data was plot, the students could easily see which straws were the longest/shortest and which straw length was the most common or least common. This activity also helped with the questions that ask, "What is the combined length..."I was able to put the straws end to end to show what the question is asking!
In the past I actually had the students measure REAL earthworms! Oh man do the kids love this! This year I wasn't able to do it because I did not have any worms! In the past I our school had compost bins and I was in charge of taking care of the worms!
Oh well...straws work great too...and are less squirmy!!
Check out my line plot task cards to help enforce this skill!! They are great and give a variety of questions to practice this skill! I know you'd love them! 50 questions total which include 20 task cards, worksheets and coloring page! All for a great price!!!
