Fractions

The fractions topic begins with teaching how to partition shapes into equal parts. We generally start with halves and fourth and then move to thirds, fifths, sixth and so on. At this stage, kids are also introduced to the concept of numerator and denominator. Before this, they were only working with the whole numbers, and now they are presented with rational numbers.  Quite confusing for them…..hmm, not really.

Children are visual learners, they learn the best by seeing it. Teaching fraction involves drawing pictures and hand on activities. So, try to incorporate a lot of visuals to make the fraction concept more thorough.

Pizza is the most commonly used manipulative to explain the idea of fractions. Students can easily correlate the part of a whole concept with a pizza and its slice. This serves as a real-life example to develop mental images of fraction model as a part of a circle.

My favorite read aloud book on this topic is Gator Pie by Louise Mathews. Kids enjoy making predictions as the story is being read.

This is a cute story about two gators, Alvin and Alice, who find a pie and decide to share it equally with each other. Just as they are about to eat it, two more gators emerge from the forest. Then they must divide the pie among four of them. Then, more and more alligators arrive, and they must share the pie among 100 gators! Finally, Alvin and Alice sneak away with the pie.

This is a classic book and may be out of print now.  Check if this happens to be in your school or local library or you may get a used one here on Amazon.

My Fractions packet includes:

1. Fractions Vocabulary Word Cards
2. Equal and Unequal Parts cut and paste fraction activity
3. Color the shapes with Equal and Unequal Parts
4. Color the shapes with 2/3/4 Equal Parts
5. Fractions: Worksheet on writing fraction
6. Fractions: Halves, Thirds and Fourths
7. Understanding Fractions: Halves
8. Understanding Fractions: Thirds
9. Understanding Fractions: Fourths
10. Write the Fractions - Worksheet
11. Fraction wall - cut and paste activity
12. Fraction wall poster
13. Spin and color the fractions activity
14. 24 Fractions flash cards

You can grab this fractions resource from my store HERE.

Happy Teaching!

This post was originally published on February 16, 2017

Shimps

Equivalent Fractions

While teaching equivalent fractions, the very first question that I always ask my students is: What does equivalent means? The answer comes “Equal”.

Yes, Equivalent means Equal in Value or Amount.

Two or more fractions are said to be Equivalent if they represent the same part of a whole.

Example:

These two models are of the same size and both shows the equal shaded parts of a whole. So,
\begin{equation}\frac{1}{3}\textrm{  is equivalent to  }\frac{2}{6}\end{equation}
Another way of showing equivalent fractions is using the number line. Lets look at the same example:

These two red dots are on the same point on the number line and represents the equivalent fraction.
\begin{equation}\frac{1}{3}\textrm{  is equivalent to  }\frac{2}{6}\end{equation}

Finding Equivalent fractions

Every fraction has many equivalent fractions. You can find these by using multiplication or division.

Multiplication: Multiply the numerator and denominator by the same number. For example:

\begin{equation}\frac{1}{3} \times \frac{2}{2}=\frac{2}{6}\end{equation}

\begin{equation}\frac{1}{3}\textrm{  is equivalent to  }\frac{2}{6}\end{equation}

Division: Divide the numerator and denominator by the same number. For example:

\begin{equation}\frac{5}{10} \div \frac{5}{5}=\frac{1}{2}\end{equation}

\begin{equation}\frac{5}{10}\textrm{  is equivalent to  }\frac{1}{2}\end{equation}
Here is my Equivalent Fractions worksheet and activity pack to introduce, reinforce and practice the concept. This packet is designed primarily for third graders, but can also be used as a review for fourth graders.

This includes the following worksheets and activities on equivalent fractions:

1. Use the fraction area models to complete the number sentence.
2. Use the number line to find the equivalent fractions
3. Find the equivalent fractions without the use of models
4. Equivalent Fractions Ice cream scoop activity
5. Cut and paste activity
6. Make Equivalent Fractions Paper Chain
7. Equivalent Fractions Mystery Pictures

A total of 15 worksheets and activities plus the answer key.

Happy Teaching!

Shimps