Lesson Plans

Fun with fractions: Looking back and moving forward

http://illuminations.nctm.org/LessonDetail.aspx?ID=L349

A lesson plan for Grades 3–5 Mathematics

Provider: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics

In this lesson, the students use a fraction applet to construct various fractions when given the fraction in standard form. This lesson promotes problem solving, reasoning, and multiple representations as the students make decisions about the number of times to divide the region and how many parts need to be colored (selected) to represent the given fraction. Illuminations provides a recording sheet, a link to the fraction applet, and detailed instructions for completing the lesson.

Students will:

  • Demonstrate understanding that a fraction can be represented as part of a region in which the parts are congruent (region model).
  • Identify fractions when the whole (region) and a part of the region are given.
  • Identify fraction relationships.
  • Demonstrate understanding that the area of equivalent fractions is relative to the whole.

NCTM Standards and Expectations:

  • Develop understanding of fractions as parts of unit wholes, as parts of a collection, as locations on number lines, and as divisions of whole numbers.
  • Use models, benchmarks, and equivalent forms to judge the size of fractions.
  • Recognize and generate equivalent forms of commonly used fractions, decimals, and percents.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics (2004)

Grade 3

  • Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will model, identify, and compute with whole numbers through 9,999.
    • Objective 1.06: Develop flexibility in solving problems by selecting strategies and using mental computation, estimation, calculators or computers, and paper and pencil.

Grade 4

  • Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will read, write, model, and compute with non-negative rational numbers.
    • Objective 1.03: Solve problems using models, diagrams, and reasoning about fractions and relationships among fractions involving halves, fourths, eighths, thirds, sixths, twelfths, fifths, tenths, hundredths, and mixed numbers.
    • Objective 1.05: Develop flexibility in solving problems by selecting strategies and using mental computation, estimation, calculators or computers, and paper and pencil.

Grade 5

  • Goal 1: Number and Operations - The learner will understand and compute with non-negative rational numbers.
    • Objective 1.02: Develop fluency in adding and subtracting non-negative rational numbers (halves, fourths, eighths; thirds, sixths, twelfths; fifths, tenths, hundredths, thousandths; mixed numbers).
      • Develop and analyze strategies for adding and subtracting numbers.
      • Estimate sums and differences.
      • Judge the reasonableness of solutions.
    • Objective 1.03: Develop flexibility in solving problems by selecting strategies and using mental computation, estimation, calculators or computers, and paper and pencil.