Maryland Math 3.DS.A.1.a
The Standard
- 3.DS.A.1
- Ask and answer questions by collecting, organizing and summarizing data, recognizing the importance of context when analyzing data.
Create a scaled data visualization (e.g., picture graph, bar graph for categorial data; line plot with fraction units of halves and fourths for numerical data) to display collected or given data.
Maryland College and Career Ready Standards for Mathematics (2025) · REPRESENT AND INTERPRET DATA.
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students collect or use data and put it on a graph. They use a key for a picture graph, a numbered scale for a bar graph, or marks in halves and fourths on a line plot.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Students label the graph and place each count or measurement correctly. They can explain that three pictures mean six items when each picture stands for two, and place 2/4 at the 1/2 mark.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may draw eight pictures for eight votes even when each picture stands for two. They may space 1/4 and 1/2 unevenly on a line plot or put 2/4 at a different mark from 1/2.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: Give students paper-strip lengths of 1/4, 1/2, 1/2, 3/4, 3/4, and 3/4 inches. Ask them to make a line plot with evenly spaced quarter-inch marks and one X per strip.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Give pairs vote totals of 8, 6, and 4; have them build bars with counters, using one counter for every two votes.
Show three pictures on a graph with a key of two votes per picture; ask, "How many votes is that, and why?"
Play Line Plot Match: students draw measurement cards in quarter-inch steps and add an X above the matching mark on a shared line plot.
Measure six classroom pencils to the nearest quarter inch, then plot their lengths to see which lengths occur most often.
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Printable 3.DS.A.1.a Worksheet
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Related Standards
- 2.DS.A.1.c
Represent categorical data using picture graphs and bar graphs. Represent numerical data using line plots.
- 3.DS.A.1.b
Summarize data presented in scaled data visualizations (e.g., picture graph, bar graph for categorial data; line plot for numerical data) by describing the stor...
- 5.DS.A.1.a
Create scaled data visualization (e.g. bar graphs for categorical data; line plots with fraction units of halves, fourths, and eighths for numerical data) to di...
- 4.DS.A.1.a
Create scaled data visualization (e.g. bar graphs for categorical data; line plots with fraction units of halves, fourths, and eighths for numerical data) to di...
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