Lesson 1; Modeling Parts of a Whole

Model Fractions;

1. Take a "8.5 by 11" white paper fold it in half (hamburger bun) and then fold it in half again.  Open it up and cut into four equal sections.
2. Take one of the strips and fold it in half.  Color one section, label it as 1/2.  
3. Take the next strip and fold it in half, and then fold it in half again.  Open it up and color one section, label it as 1/4. 
4. Take another strip and fold it in half three times; guess or predict how many sections there will be when you open it.  Open it and compare your guess with the number of sections you have now.  Color one section and label it 1/?.
5. Take the next strip and fold it in half 4 times.  How many sections will it be divided into when you open it?  Color one section and label it 1/?.

Try it out... can you fold a piece of paper and color it to create these fractions?

Lesson 2; Other Ways to Model Fractions

A fraction is a number that names part of a whole.

Numerator tells how many parts are being used.

one out of two or one half or one divided by 2

Denominator tells how many equal parts are in the whole.

A number line is another way to represent a fraction or part of a whole.

Internet Sites to explore and develop your skills;

Lesson 3; Counting Parts to Make a Whole

You can count by fourths/fractions.

Wholes can have any number of pieces.

= 1 Whole

Lesson 4; Comparing Fractions

You compare fractions of a whole when you cook or build. Greater than is expressed using > , example 4>2.  Less than is expressed using <, example 4<6.  Equal is expressed using =, 4= four ones.

You can draw your own fraction pictures to solve problems.

Susie has a candy bar and she has only 2/4  of her candy bar left.  John has a candy bar and he has 3/4 of his candy bar left.  Which person has eaten less of their candy bar?

Susie John

Color what each person has left of their candy bar. Compare the fractions as to >, <, or =.  (comparing works with pictures if the pictures you draw are the same size before you divided them into fractions ... visual reference for comparing)

Thinking Algebraic;

What coin is 1/4 of a dollar?  What coin is 1/10 of a dollar?

What coin is 1/5 of a quarter?  what coin is 1/5 of a half a dollar?

Virtual Manipulative: Fractions - Comparing

Practice Comparing Fractions

Lesson 5: Equivalent Fractions

Equivalent fractions are two or more fractions that name the same amount.

1/2 is equivalent to 2/4

Explore on your own equivalent fractions at;

             Harcourt School -- E-Lab  chapter 21 

Virtual Manipulative: Fractions - Equivalent

FUNBRAIN - Fresh Baked Fractions patterns/equivalent medium hard

Return to Chapter 21 Introduction     Return to Extended Classroom