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Generate Measurement Data

Students will measure the lengths of multiple objects or instances (e.g., leaves, pencils, worms drawn on paper) using rulers marked with halves and fourths of an inch, collecting a data set with varied fractional measurements to be used in a line plot.

How it is taught

0:00 of 3:02

Line each string up at 0 on the ruler.

Then mark one X at the length you read.

string A012345instring B012345instring C012345instring D012345instring E012345in1112221233124string lengths

Read it: Line plots in halves and quarters

5 ribbons measured to the nearest 1/4 inch: 2, 2 1/4, 2 1/4, 2 1/4 and 2 3/4. Put an X above each length: 3 X's stack at 2 1/4.

  1. Measure each ribbon to the nearest 1/4 inch.
  2. Put 1 X above its length on the line plot.
  3. Read the plot: the tallest stack is the most common length.

Each X stands for 1 ribbon, so ribbons of the same length stack up.

The quarter marks between 2 and 3 are 2 1/4, 2 1/2 and 2 3/4.

The tallest stack shows the most common length: 3 X's stand above 2 1/4 inches.

One X for each ribbon, above its length: then read the stacks.

Counting the lengths along the scale instead of the X's above them.

Count the X's: 3 X's stand above 2 1/4, so 3 ribbons measured 2 1/4 inches.

Ribbons were measured: 1 is 5 1/2 inches long, 2 measure 6 inches and 4 measure 6 1/2 inches. How many ribbons were measured in all? — 7. On a line plot, each ribbon is 1 X: 1 + 2 + 4 is 7.

Measuring 4 pencils to the nearest 1/4 inch

Today we'll measure things and collect data. Let's measure four pencils with a ruler that shows halves and fourths of an inch.

Here's our ruler. The big ticks are whole inches, and the smaller ticks split each inch into halves and fourths.

Pencil one. Line up the end with zero and look where the tip lands.

The tip lands on three and one-fourth inches. Let's write that down.

Pencil two. Line it up with zero again.

This one is two and one-half inches long.

Pencil three is a little longer.

It's three and three-fourths inches. Add it to our list.

Last one — pencil four.

Two and one-fourth inches. Write it down.

Measure 4 pencils to the nearest 14 inchMeasuring with halves and fourths0 in4 in01234small ticks = fourthsLengths (in)1.314142.212123.334344.21414DATA SET4 lengthsready for a line plot
Grade 3 · Measure objects and record fraction lengths

We collected four measurements with fractions. This data set is ready to make a line plot!

What you see

While they climb, your page writes one true line to ask about tonight, and a short note each Sunday.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics
Did you know?

A chessboard has 64 squares — share them out between the 8 rows and each row holds exactly 8.

Today’s goal
1 star — one skill mastered, every rung of its ladder climbed
Climbing now
Divide within 100

An example student.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Maya earned 2 stars this week — Interpret multiplication as equal groups, which took 6 answers over 3 days before its star landed 3 days ago and Multiply by 6, 7, 8 and 9. Next up: Divide within 100.

An example week.

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