Grade 3
Unit 5: Fractions
3.MD.4
Fractions
Teacher’s Guide for Measuring Caterpillars
Formative Assessment
Note: Prior to this assessment, students will have had experience transferring number line partitioning to standard measurements including 1 inch,
½ inch, and ¼ inch. They made their own rulers with paper strips partitioned into whole inch, half-inch and quarter-inch intervals. Multiple
opportunities were provided to measure lengths of objects, write measurements, and use the reintroduced line plot as a tool for displaying
measurement data using fractional values. They will have made observations about line plot data and solved comparative problems. If re-teaching
is necessary, this assessment may be completed during more than one session.
Materials:
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Measuring Caterpillars Assessment Activity sheets: Individual Recording Sheet, Data Collection Table, Line Plot
Attached ruler template
Pipe cleaners pre-cut to varying lengths 1- or 2-inch and greater (1 inch, ½ inch, and ¼ inch intervals)
Assessment:
1. Give each student 5 pipe cleaner caterpillars.
2. Students will make their own rulers, measure their caterpillars, attach caterpillars to or trace caterpillars on recording sheets and label the
measurements. Check rulers and caterpillars measurements for accuracy before students begin collecting and recording classmate data.
Note: Struggling students may need more guided practice making and/or measuring with a ruler. Reassess with new “caterpillars”, if
necessary.
3. Pre-determine the number of classmates for data collection table. Students will collect and record “caterpillar” measurement data from 3-4
classmates. The data will be used to create line plots.
4. Students will record measurement data on a line plots for whole inch, half-inch and quarter-inch intervals. They will record observations
about the data representations and solve comparative problems.
Measuring Caterpillars
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Fractions
Measuring Caterpillars
Ruler Template
A. Directions: Cut out and complete the attached ruler. Partition into halves and fourths and label the partitions.
Measuring Caterpillars
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Fractions: Measuring Caterpillars
Individual Caterpillar Recording Sheet
A. Directions: Use the attached ruler to measure your caterpillars to the nearest whole inch, ½ inch, or ¼ inch. Record the measurement on
the table.
My caterpillars (attach or trace):
My Caterpillars
Measurements
Measuring Caterpillars
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How do you know that whole inches, quarter inches or half inches is the most accurate for measuring your caterpillar?
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Measuring Caterpillars
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Fractions
Measuring Caterpillars
Data Collection Recording Table
B. Directions for Measuring Caterpillars Table:
1. Record the measurements of the caterpillars of ______ classmates on the table.
Student
Measurements to the nearest whole inch, ½ inch, or ¼ inch.
a. _______________________________ has/have the shortest caterpillar. It measures _________ inches.
b. _______________________________ has/have the longest caterpillar. It measures _________ inches.
Measuring Caterpillars
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Fractions
Measuring Caterpillars
Data Collection Recording Table
C. Directions for Creating a Line Plot:
1. Make a line plot of your caterpillar data. Include the measurements of both yours and your classmate’s caterpillars.
Measuring Caterpillars
3.MD.4
a. How many caterpillars are shorter than 5 ¼ inches? _________________
b. What is the most frequent measurement? How many caterpillars were plotted for this measurement?
Most Frequent: _________________
Number of Caterpillars: _________________
c. If your teacher collected all of the caterpillars that are longer than 6 ¾ inches, how many caterpillars would be collected?
_________________
d. Are there more caterpillars that are longer than 4 ½ inches or shorter than 3 ¼ inches? Explain your answer.
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e. There are _______ caterpillars that are 5 ²/₄ inches long. Sean says that there are more caterpillars that are 2 and 3 ½ inches long
combined. Is he right? Explain your answer.
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