Inch by Inch

In this lesson, students use a ruler to represent various fractions as lengths. This lesson builds on the work done in the previous lessons with as students use a standard instrument to measure a variety of items, including items which can be measured to the nearest half and quarter of an inch.

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).

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.

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.

Last Names Next

Students create bar graphs and circle graphs and find the range and mode of two data sets.

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.

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.

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.

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.