Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand and work with fractions confidently.
Materials and Prep
- Paper
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
You should already know basic arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Activities
- Fraction Pizza: Draw a circle on a paper and divide it into slices. Color one slice to represent a fraction, then write the fraction next to it.
- Equivalent Fractions: Cut out different shapes from paper and fold them to find equivalent fractions. For example, fold a square into halves, then fourths, and so on.
- Fraction Race: Create a number line on a long strip of paper. Mark fractions on the number line and use a token to move along it, practicing adding and subtracting fractions.
Talking Points
- What are fractions? - "Fractions represent parts of a whole. For example, 1/2 means one out of two equal parts."
- Types of fractions: - "Fractions can be proper (like 1/2), improper (like 3/2), or mixed numbers (like 1 1/2)."
- Adding fractions: - "To add fractions, we need a common denominator. For example, to add 1/3 + 1/4, we find a common denominator like 12 and then add the fractions."
- Subtracting fractions: - "Subtracting fractions also requires a common denominator. For example, to subtract 1/3 - 1/4, we find a common denominator and then subtract the fractions."
- Practice makes perfect: - "The more we practice working with fractions, the easier it becomes. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, that's how we learn!"