Post 7: Line Plots with Fractions

 This week students started learning how to read line plots. First, they started looking at line plots with just whole numbers and learned how they are to be read, different vocabulary that goes along with line plots, and how we solve to find certain data. Soon, we went into line plots with fractions like the one seen below:


It seemed that adding in fractions along with the whole numbers stumped a few students, even though all the concepts of reading the line plot remained the same. There were several questions accompanying this line plot that also stumped a few students, especially the question below:


A lot of students saw the mixed number and their brains immediately jumped back to the previous lesson on how to subtract mixed numbers. They ended up getting 1 and 1/4 as their answer, which I found interesting that they were able to bring in their prior knowledge, even though the answer was wrong. We had to redirect them a few times and explain that we need to look at the number of X's (or people) above each mixed number and then just subtract those amounts. Eventually, they were able to get the hang of what to do and how to read a line plot







Comments

  1. John ShanleyMarch 21, 2022 at 8:17 AM

    It sounds like you are doing incredible work as you think about exactly what is going through your student's mind with certain questions. It informed your redirections and most likely you next few classes. I wonder what is next in your curriculum, and how the previous background knowledge as well as this lesson will compound to inform not only your teaching but their learning.

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