Let’s Learn!

Think About It!

Goal: Collect and display data on a line plot.

As the construction workers get ready, the group is looking at what types and quantities of materials will be used in the construction. To help them organize the materials in a graph, we will use a line plot!

A line plot is a graph that uses columns of X's above a number line to show the frequency of data. Frequency is the number of times an event or value happens. It helps us see groups in the data. We create a line plot by drawing a number line and labeling it. Then, we record data above the line.

Look at this group of materials. The workers will use more than one of each type of material. See how many they have of each material.

A line plot will help you keep track of the number of materials. Look at the line plot below. It shows all the materials for the job.

Click through the slides below to see how to create a line plot for the amount and types of materials used. You will use this line plot to answer some questions.

First, we need to draw a number line and show the different materials being used. There should be a picture for each kind of material.

What are the different kinds of materials?

Show Me

There are boards, bricks, nails, screws, and cement.

Let's draw the number line and add a picture to represent each material. Click the show me button to see how you did.

Show Me

Look at the picture of all the materials. Let’s count the number of boards.

Row 1: Nail, Cement, Nail, Cement, Nail, Cement, Nail, Cement, Nail Row 2: Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood. Row 3: Brick, Brick, Screw, Brick, Screw, Brick, Screw, Brick, Brick.

How many boards are in this pile?

Show Me

There are 8 boards!

Now let's record this data on the line plot. We need to put an X above the picture on the plot line for each time that material is present.

What will that look like?

Show Me

A plot chart. Boards: 8, bricks: 0, screws: 0, cement: 0, nails:0;

Row 1: Nail, Cement, Nail, Cement, Nail, Cement, Nail, Cement, Nail Row 2: Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood. Row 3: Brick, Brick, Screw, Brick, Screw, Brick, Screw, Brick, Brick.

How many bricks are there? What will that look like on the line plot?

Show Me

There are 6 bricks.

A plot chart. Boards: 8, bricks: 6, screws: 0, cement: 0, nails:0;

Let's look at the rest of the materials. Place Xs above each of the pictures on the line plot that show the number of screws, cement, and nails.

Row 1: Nail, Cement, Nail, Cement, Nail, Cement, Nail, Cement, Nail Row 2: Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood. Row 3: Brick, Brick, Screw, Brick, Screw, Brick, Screw, Brick, Brick.

How many screws are there?

Show Me

There are 3 Screws.

A plot chart. Boards: 8, bricks: 6, screws: 3, cement: 0, nails:0;

How many bags of cement are there?

Row 1: Nail, Cement, Nail, Cement, Nail, Cement, Nail, Cement, Nail Row 2: Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood. Row 3: Brick, Brick, Screw, Brick, Screw, Brick, Screw, Brick, Brick.

Click the button to check your work.

Show Me

There are 4 bags of cement.

A plot chart. Boards: 8, bricks: 6, screws: 3, cement: 4, nails:0;

Finally, how many nails are there?

Row 1: Nail, Cement, Nail, Cement, Nail, Cement, Nail, Cement, Nail Row 2: Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood, Wood. Row 3: Brick, Brick, Screw, Brick, Screw, Brick, Screw, Brick, Brick.

Click the button to check your work.

Show Me

There are 5 nails.

A plot chart. Boards: 8, bricks: 6, screws: 3, cement: 4, nails:5;

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Slide:

Now that you know how many of each kind of material there are, you can compare them. Look at the X's above each building materials picture to answer these questions.

We can find out how many materials there are all together. Look at all the Xs on the line plot. Count each X.

A line plot helps you keep track of the number of items that you have. You use a line plot to answer questions by counting the X's. Keep going to learn more about how to use line plots.