Fun with Fractions

OnlineMathLearning.com. (2015). Frayer Model of a fraction
 [Online Image].Retrieved from
http://www.onlinemathlearning.com/fraction-grade4.html

            Last week in class, we discovered a progression of fun activities we can do with our students. Whether they are learning about fractions for the first time, they have grasped a good understanding of fractions or they are looking for a challenge, many activities are available to engage students. The activity I presented was for beginners and it provided students the opportunity to develop their spatial reasoning skills by seeing the size different fractions visually and comparing them. A more advanced activity had students break a shape into continually smaller, but equal pieces. And another activity encouraged students to convert fractions into decimals by providing students with both fraction and decimal form, and then matching the correct ones with each other.

            As a class, we further developed our understanding of fractions through use of the Frayer model (right). The Frayer model is a visual diagram of four equal sections with the topic of interest in the middle where all the sections connect. Each of the four sections is filled with a definition of the topic, characteristics of the topic as well as examples and non-examples of the topic. In class, our topic of interest was proper fractions, but I tried to encompass all fractions in my Frayer model (as seen below). 

          I find fractions are difficult for students to understand because fractions consist of two numbers. Students are so used to associating numbers with just a quantity. However, we know that the "top number", the numerator, is the number that expresses the quantity and that the "bottom number", the denominator, expresses the name of the quantity. Or more simply, how much and of what. I think this is a very crucial component to understanding fractions. Then, when working with fractions, it will be easier to understand why we need to have the same name for fractions when adding or subtracting them, and why we only add the numerators, once this common name has been found.

      I also found an excellent online resource for helping students understand and learn about fractions. Khan Academy is an online website that offers free world-class education to anyone, anywhere. Its specializes in teaching mathematics, but also offers help in history, art and grammar. For 4th grade fractions, it provides activities for common denominators, equivalent fractions, and comparing fractions. Once the learner completes these activities, they win stars. Once they have earned all their stars, they are eligible to complete a unit test and win the grand trophy. It is engaging, interesting and educational!

There's a fine line between a numerator and a denominator. Only a fraction of you will get that joke.