Standard 1: Collect, represent and interpret data and find the mode, median and range of a data set.

General Information
Number: MA.4.DP.1
Title: Collect, represent and interpret data and find the mode, median and range of a data set.
Type: Standard
Subject: Mathematics (B.E.S.T.)
Grade: 4
Strand: Data Analysis and Probability

Related Benchmarks

This cluster includes the following benchmarks.

Related Access Points

This cluster includes the following access points.

Access Points

MA.4.DP.1.AP.1
Sort and represent numerical data, including fractional values using tables or line plots (when given a scaled number line). Data set to include only whole numbers and halves.
MA.4.DP.1.AP.2
Determine the mode or range to interpret numerical data including fractional values, represented with tables or line plots. Data set to include only whole numbers and halves. Limit the greatest and least number in a data set to a whole number.
MA.4.DP.1.AP.3
Solve one-step real-world problems involving numerical data represented with tables or line plots. Data set to include only whole numbers and halves. Required operations to involve only the whole number data points in the data set.

Related Resources

Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.

Formative Assessments

Science Experiment Part Two:

Students are asked to analyze data presented in a line plot and solve problems related to the data.

Type: Formative Assessment

Science Experiment Part One:

Students are asked to use a given set of data to create a line plot with an appropriate scale.

Type: Formative Assessment

Bulk Candy Part Two:

Students analyze data presented in a line plot and solve problems related to the data.

Type: Formative Assessment

Bulk Candy Part One:

Students are asked to use a given set of data to create a line plot with an appropriate scale.

Type: Formative Assessment

Race Cars Part Two:

Students are asked to analyze data presented in a line plot and solve problems related to the data.

Type: Formative Assessment

Race Cars Part One:

Students are asked to use a given set of data to create a line plot with an appropriate scale.

Type: Formative Assessment

Rock Measurements Part Two:

Students analyze data presented in a line plot and solve problems related to the data.

Type: Formative Assessment

Rock Measurements Part One:

Students are asked to use a given set of data to create a line plot with an appropriate scale.

Type: Formative Assessment

Lesson Plans

Motion for Speed:

Students will investigate the relationships between the initial speed of a car and the distance required for it to stop.  Students will record their results onto a student guide to determine how a car moving faster or slower affects its ability to stop.  Finally, students will investigate why we have different speed limits on different roads in this integrated lesson plan.

Type: Lesson Plan

Exploring Mode:

In this lesson plan, students will practice finding the mode of a set of data and recognizing how it is used in real life situations. Students will be given the opportunity to collect data, create line plots, interpret the numbers, and find the mode of the data.

Type: Lesson Plan

Gardening In Schools:

This Model Eliciting Activity is written at a 4th grade level. In this open-ended problem, students must consider how to rank potting soil based on factors like fraction of ingredients, price, and eco-friendliness. In teams, students determine their procedures and write letters back to the client.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Type: Lesson Plan

Having a Field Day:

In this MEA, students will rank t-shirt companies from the best price to the worst price by considering data such as purchase price, shipping fees, sizes, colors, etc. as well as notes regarding the amount of students enrolled. In the twist, students will be given information on additional requirements from the principal for specific shirt colors for each grade as well as the additional add-on of the school's logo (an elephant).

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Type: Lesson Plan

One Leg Up:

In this lesson the students will be using a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8). They will be measuring different lengths of insects, recording the lengths, and then plotting the data on a line plot. From this data they will solve problems involving the addition and subtraction of fractions.

Type: Lesson Plan

Fish Ahoy Fish:

Students will work in groups to assist a client in purchasing different fish for a fish pond. From a data table, they will need to decide which type of fish and how many fish to purchase according to the size of the each pond. After, they will need to revisit a revised data table to make different selection of fish and calculate costs for the purchase of the fish.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Type: Lesson Plan

Measure Up! Measuring to make a line plot.:

In this lesson, students will generate measurement data by measuring lengths using rulers and show the data by making a line plot.

Type: Lesson Plan

Thrift Town Melt-Down - Let's Cool up!:

During this activity, students will look at data from a fictional town, Thrift Town and develop a strategy of choosing which material would be the best to help insulate an ice cream container. The students will utilize higher order thinking skills, as well as deduction to find a solution.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Type: Lesson Plan

Travels and More MEA:

In this Model Eliciting Activity (MEA), students will be need to help a travel agent come up with the best vacation hotel package for a family of four. They need to take into consideration all the amenities, prices, perks, and reviews into consideration. A twist comes in when the travel agent will need to provide vacation hotel packages for families of 5 members.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Type: Lesson Plan

Cookies and Treats:

Fourth graders will help Cookies and Treats find cost-effective and eco-friendly packaging for its cookies. Students will organize data and compare prices using decimal notation in order to develop a procedure for choosing packaging for cookies.  Students will use multiplication and division of whole numbers to plan for how many packages to order.

Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Type: Lesson Plan

Marshmallow Math:

In this lesson, students are physically engaged in measuring distances of tossed marshmallows to the nearest 1/2 foot. Using their measurements, they will represent the data on a line plot and then solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of mixed numbers. This is a fun lesson that motivates students to become excited about the difficult world of fractions.

Type: Lesson Plan

Original Student Tutorials

Breanna's Bracelet Business:

Join us as Breanna learns to use a line plot to examine measurement data she needs to create bracelets for her friends, in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Logging Lengths with Line Plots:

Learn how to create a line plot and analyze data in the line plot in this interactive tutorial.  You will also see how to add and subtract using the line plot to solve problems based on the line plots.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Perspectives Video: Teaching Ideas

Using Visual Models to Determine Mode, Median and Range:

Unlock an effective teaching strategy for teaching median, mode, and range in this Teacher Perspectives Video for educators.

Type: Perspectives Video: Teaching Idea

Using Manipulatives to Create Stem and Leaf Plots:

Unlock an effective teaching strategy for teaching stem and leaf plots in this Teacher Perspectives video for educators.

Type: Perspectives Video: Teaching Idea

Teaching Ideas

Ball Bounce Experiment:

Students investigate different balls' abilities to bounce and represent the data they collect graphically.

Type: Teaching Idea

Jump or Be Lunch! SeaWorld Classroom Activity:

Students will predict how high they can jump and then compare the height of their jumps to how high a rockhopper penguin can jump out of the water. They will practice mathematical skills for determining averages.

Type: Teaching Idea

Virtual Manipulative

KidsZone: Create a Graph:

Create bar, line, pie, area, and xy graphs.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

Student Resources

Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this topic.

Original Student Tutorials

Breanna's Bracelet Business:

Join us as Breanna learns to use a line plot to examine measurement data she needs to create bracelets for her friends, in this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Logging Lengths with Line Plots:

Learn how to create a line plot and analyze data in the line plot in this interactive tutorial.  You will also see how to add and subtract using the line plot to solve problems based on the line plots.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Parent Resources

Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this topic.