Fractions

Objectives

To understand that fractions mean a whole shape or number divided into equal-sized pieces or groups.

To understand that the larger the denominator (the bottom number of the fraction), the smaller the size of the pieces.

Resources

Abacus 4 Textbook 1 | Scrap paper | Comparing Unit Fractions (YouTube)

Today's Lesson

Main Activity

Take two pieces of identically sized paper. Cut one piece of paper into four equal pieces. Write 1/4 on each quarter and draw attention to the bottom number of the fraction (denominator). Tell your student that this denominator is the clue to how many equal-sized pieces the whole shape has been divided into.

Now, cut each quarter into two equal pieces and ask your student whether these new pieces are larger or smaller than the quarters had been. They are obviously smaller! Write 1/8 on each of the pieces and point out the denominator again. The bottom number is bigger, yet the pieces are smaller. This is because the whole paper has now been divided into eight pieces.

Cut each eighth into two and make 16 pieces, or sixteenths. These are obviously smaller still, as the whole paper is divided into more pieces, while its original size remains the same.

Watch Comparing Unit Fractions (YouTube)

Turn to page 53 in Abacus 4 Textbook 1.

As a result of the practical demonstration and the video, ask your student to fill in the ‘greedy crocodile’ symbols for ‘greater than’ or ‘less than’ (> or <) in between the fractions shown. Remind your student that the crocodile always eats the larger piece, or the larger number.

To remind students how to find fractions of shape, watch the video 'Fractions'.

Ask your student to complete the page.

Citations

[1] www.youtube.com [2] www.youtube.com