Fraction Concepts
Warm-up
Show a circle divided into 4 equal parts with 1 shaded. What fraction is shaded? (1/4.) Now show a circle divided into 4 unequal parts with 1 shaded. Can I still call this 1/4? (No: the parts are not equal.) Why does it matter that the parts are equal?
Explore
Fraction stations: (1) Region: fold paper into equal parts, shade a fraction, write the notation. (2) Set: given 12 counters, show 2/3 in a red/blue arrangement. (3) Linear: place fractions on a number line. (4) Cultural: identify what fraction of the medicine wheel represents each season and direction.
Consolidate
Practice
Students represent 6 fractions in all three models, then order 5 fractions with the same denominator from least to greatest. Exit ticket: draw and name the fraction represented by 3 shaded parts of a 5-part whole.
Exit ticket
Students represent 6 fractions in all three models, then order 5 fractions with the same denominator from least to greatest. Exit ticket: draw and name the fraction represented by 3 shaded parts of a 5-part whole.
Region: divide a rectangle into 5 equal strips, shade 3. Set: arrange 5 counters in a row, make 3 of them one colour. Linear: mark a number line from 0 to 1 in 5 equal jumps, place a dot at the 3rd jump. All three represent the same fraction.
Both have 3 parts. But 1/4 is bigger than 1/8 (the whole is divided into fewer pieces, so each piece is larger). So 3/4 > 3/8. On a number line, 3/4 is at 0.75 and 3/8 is at 0.375. 3/4 is larger.