Equivalent Fractions
Intern: Afra Mohamed Taha
Date: 27/02/2008
Grade Level: 3rd Grade
No. of Students: 25
Subject: Math
Time Frame: 45 minutes
Qatar Curriculum Standard
3- 6.4 Use diagrams to:
- identify the equivalence of simple fractions, e.g. show that half a circle is
equivalent to two quarters of a circle of a same size;
- compare two unit fractions with the same denominator, e.g. show that 7/8 > 5/8
Instructional Objective: (Measurable)
By the end of the lesson students will be able to use a diagram to:
- Identify the equivalence of simple fractions accurately.
- Compare two fractions with the same denominator accurately.
Materials:
- Flash cards with the key words: fractions, denominator, numerator, whole,
and equivalent.
- 5 papers (for fraction BINGO game)
- 5 decks of fraction flash cards.
- 4 large poster board pizzas (one cut into 3rds, 4ths, 6ths, 8ths)
- an apple
- a knife
Resources:
www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/Arithmatic/ATH0029.html
www.coolmath.com/fractions/fractions-04-equivalent-01.html
TEACHING PROCEDURE
Activating Prior Knowledge / Focus:
Warm up students, tell students that I have a problem and I want them to help me
solve that problem (to be solved after explaining the lesson). The problem is that,
I had only one apple and I want to divide it equally between my two daughters, I
divided into two equal parts. I cut one half into two and I gave Maha the half and
Hind the two quarters, Maha was crying, she said Hind had more than her! Please
help me solve this problem after we finish our lesson for today.
Teacher Strategies:
Stick the flash cards (key words) on the board
Last week we studied about fractions, tell me what the meaning of fractions is?
Have the students discuss the meaning of the key words.
Our lesson today is about fractions. Write the word equivalent fraction on the
board. Have students discuss the meaning of fractions, and then discuss what they
think equivalent means. Have students discuss everyday life situations where
equivalent fractions maybe important.
Use the poster board pizzas to explain the meaning of equivalent fractions. Tell
students that equivalent fractions have the same value or amount.
Draw diagrams to show the equivalence of fractions.
For example:
Ask the students to look at the following diagram:
Ask them to write the fraction of the shaded area in the diagram.
Now ask them to look at this diagram and write the fraction of the shaded area.
The fraction shaded in the first diagram is 1/2, and the fraction shaded in the
second diagram is 2/4. Ask the children what they notice about the shaded areas
in both diagrams. The children will notice that both fractions represent the same
value which means that both fractions are equal: 1/2 = 2/4.
These are called equivalent fractions (Since they are equal amounts.)
Draw other diagrams to show other examples of equivalent fractions. For
example:
After I have made sure that children fully and accurately understood the meaning
of equivalence of simple fractions. They will play the BINGO game. The BINGO
game is explained in the student activities.
For the second objective I will also use diagrams to help students compare
between fractions with the same denominator. For example:
Observe the following diagrams:
In this diagram the fraction of the shaded area is 3/4.
In this diagram the fraction of the shaded area is 1/4. The children will notice that
the shaded area in diagram 1 is larger than the shaded area in diagram 2. Which
means that 3/4 > 1/4. Use more diagrams to explain the concept.
Student Activities:
Activity 1
Before introducing this game, review with students the concept of equivalent
fractions. Have students list some fractions that are equivalent to 1/2 (for
example, 2/4, 3/6……)
Play the BINGO game:
Divide the students into five groups. Each group will have a bingo grid with 5
pairs of squares on it (i.e. 2 by 5) and a deck of fraction flash cards (1/3, 3/4, 2/6,
1/4, 4/6, 2/8, 2/3, 1/2, 4/8, 6/8). Each pair of squares on the grid must be filled
with a pair of equivalent fraction flash cards. A completed grid might look like
the grid bellow:
6/8
3/4
4/8
1/2
1/3
2/6
2/3
4/6
1/4
2/8
The first group to fill up their grid wins the game.
Activity 2
Solve the questions on the worksheet individually.
Modifications / Differentiation
For students with special needs/difficulties, teacher will use more pictures and/or
fraction bars to explain the lesson. If it is still hard for them she can try to explain
in Arabic.
Peer assistance could also be an alternative to using Arabic language i.e. students
can explain the activity to their peers.
Lesson Extension:
- When the students have mastered the format game, increase the number of
columns on the fraction grid and also increase the challenge by using higher
fraction equivalents.
- Ask students to look in the internet for other equivalent fraction activities e.g.
games.
Closure:
Go back to the objectives of the lesson to make a summary, today we learnt that:
- When the fractions represent the same value or amount they are called
equivalent fractions.
- When the denominator on two or more fractions is the same, the fraction with
the highest numerator represents the highest value.
Ask the students to solve the problem mentioned during activating prior
knowledge.
Assessment:
- Students will complete an exercise on equivalent fractions and fractions with
the same denominators.
- Students will make the correct correlations between equivalent fractions. They
might write in their Math journals an explanation of the strategies they used to
find equivalent fractions and compare fractions with the same denominators.
- Tell students that they will study more details about the ways that help to get
more equivalent fractions in grade 4.
Equivalent Fractions
Worksheet 1
Name………………………………………
Class………………………
1) Draw diagrams to show the following equivalent fractions. The
first one has been solved as an example.
a. 1/2 = 2/4
1/2
b. 2/3 = 4/6
c. 2/8 = 1/4
d. 1/3 = 2/6
2/4
2) Compare these fractions by using (<) or (>). The first one has
been solved as an example.
a. 7/8
>
3/8
b. 3/5
4/5
c. 5/6
4/6
d. 4/4
2/4
e. 2/3
1/3
3) Draw a diagram to show each fraction.
a. 2/3 and 1/3
b. 1/4 and 3/4