Another Look at Fractions of a Set

This lesson gives students another opportunity to explore fractions using the set model. This lesson is integrated with other areas of the math curriculum including data analysis and statistics.

Investigating Fractions with Pattern Blocks

This lesson promotes problem solving and reasoning with fractions as students investigate the relationships between various parts and wholes. It also focuses on representation because students are given multiple opportunities to investigate the relative value of fractions. Students use communication skills as they work in pairs to articulate and clarify their understanding of fraction relationships.

Virtual Pattern Blocks

Students use virtual pattern blocks to problem solve and reason with fractions. They investigate relationships between parts and wholes using another representation of a region model, virtual fractions. Students use conversation to explain their understandings in order to extend and clarify their mathematical content knowledge.

Pattern Block Fractions

This lesson builds on the previous two lessons by focusing on the identification of fractional parts of a region and by recording them in standard form. Students continue to develop communication skills by working together to express their understanding of fraction relationships and to record fractions in written form.

Expanding Our Pattern Block Fraction Repertoire

In this lesson, the students expand the number of fractions they can represent with pattern blocks by increasing the whole. Instead of representing the whole with one yellow hexagon, the students explore fractional relationships when two, three, and four yellow hexagons constitute the whole.

Exploring the Value of the Whole

This lesson focuses on the relationship between parts and the whole. These relationships were developed earlier and require the students to consider the size or value of the same fraction when different "wholes" are compared (i.e., the value of x is relative to the whole; x of a small pie is not equivalent to x of a large pie). This lesson promotes problem solving and reasoning as the students compare similar fractions with different "wholes." Students develop communication skills as they work in pairs and share their understanding about the relationship between the value of a fraction and the whole.

Making and Investigating Fraction Strips

Students make and use a set of fraction strips to represent the length model, discover fraction relationships, and work with equivalent fractions.

More Fun with Fraction Strips

Students continue to work with fraction strips to compare and order fractions. This lesson builds on the work done with fraction relationships in the previous lesson. Students develop skills in problem solving and reasoning as they make connections between various fractions.

Investigating Equivalent Fractions with Relationship Rods

Students investigate the length model by working with relationship rods to find equivalent fractions. Students develop skills in reasoning and problem solving as they explain how two fractions are equivalent (the same length).