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2017-2018
Content Standards:
a n a
Standard: 4.NF.1 Explain why a fraction /b is equivalent to a fraction ( × )/(n × b) by using visual fraction models, with
attention to how the number and size of the parts differ even though the two fractions themselves are the same size. Use this
principle to recognize and generate equivalent fractions.
Rationale: Students will need to be able to understand the idea that certain fractions are equal to each other. This will serve
as a basis for more complex topics such as simplifying fractions, which will be taught in later lessons. Equivalent fractions is
also a skill that students will use outside of the classroom when it comes to situations involving sharing items equally.
Learning Objectives:
1. Given five different fractions, the student will be able to generate at least one equivalent fraction to each given
fraction with 80% accuracy.
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Academic Language:
Numerator Fraction
Denominator Equivalent
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4. Students may remember that when split between two people, each person would get three slices of pizza.
5. Now have students imagine that four people want to split two pizzas. If both pizzas were cut into 6 slices each, each
person would again get three slices.
6. However, what if one pizza was cut into 12 slices, and the other was cut into 6 slices? How can we tell how many
slices each person gets?
7. Explain that in today’s lesson, students will be learning about how to divide things into equal, or equivalent
fractions. This means that even if the total number, such as the number of slices, is different, it is still possible to
have equal parts.
8. Read over the lesson objective so that the students know exactly what is expected of them during this lesson.
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25. Begin coloring in parts of the second rectangle. Explain that one must continue shading until the same amout is
shaded on each rectangle. Once 4 sections are equal, point out the fact that the shading lines up between the two
fractions. Since the same amount is shaded, these must also be equivalent.
26. Write 8/12 = 4/6.
27. Display another rectangle underneath the first two, this one divided into three sections.
28. Explain that some fractions can have more than one equivalent fraction, and shade in two sections of this rectangle.
29. Note that 2/3 = 4/6 = 8/12. All three of these are the exact same amount and are therefore all equivalent.
30. Now, explain that there is a mathematical relationship between the numbers of equivalent fractions.
31. Look at the fractions 2/3 and 4/6. Explain to students that if we multiply the number 2 by 2, and the number 3 by 2,
we get 4 and 6. Write that 2/3 * 2/2 = 4/6. Since 2/2 equals 1, the total value of the fraction is not changing, which
is why the two numbers are equivalent. Similarly, if one multiplies 2/3 * 4/4, one will get 8/12, meaning that these
are also equivalent. Write 2/3 * 4/4 = 8/12.
32. On the other hand, if one divides 4/6 by 2/2, they will get 2/3. Write 4/6 / 2/2 = 2/3 on the SMART board.
33. Overall, as long as one multiplies or divides both the numerator and the denominator by the same value, they will
get an equivalent fraction.
34. Explain that this is the basis for understanding equivalent fractions.
35. Before moving on, ask students for a Fist to Five in order to assess their current understanding of equivalent
fractions, as well as to answer any questions.
Structured Practice: We do (Teacher 75%, Students 25%): 10 minutes
1. The teacher will give each student a small white board and a white board marker.
2. Explain that students will now practice working with fractions to find equivalent fractions.
3. Present a fraction (Example 3/4) on the SMART board. Have students draw a representation of this fraction.
4. Once students are done, have them hold up their boards for the teacher to see. Take note of which students are
correct or incorrect.
5. Display a correct picture of the fraction so that students can make corrections.
6. Next, display a picture of a shape divided into 8 pieces. Ask students to copy the image and shade in the correct
number of pieces and write down the correct fraction to make it equivalent to 3/4.
7. Have students hold up their white boards as they complete the problem.
8. As students hold up their boards, point out to students whether they need to correct anything or try again. If many
students are struggling, go back and review further.
9. Once each student has answered, shade in 6 pieces, and explain that in this problem, ¾ is equivalent to 6/8.
10. Continue to give problems for students to practice with. Some problems may involve pictures for assistance.
Eventually, use fewer and fewer pictures and see if students will either draw pictures themselves or whether they
will use the relationship between the numerators and denominators to find equivalent fractions on their own.
11. During each problem, walk around the classroom to see how students are doing. If one student in particular is
struggling, give them extra assistance and review. If most students are still struggling, go back and review the topic
as a full class to give students a better understanding.
12. After students solve each problem, have them hold up their white boards, and observe their responses. Have
students attempt to correct any mistakes, and take note of students who are consistently correct. These students will
be encouraged to complete more challenging activities later on in the lesson.
13. Once all students answer, go over the problem by solving it on the SMART board so that students can review the
methods for finding equivalent fractions before moving on to another problem.
14. Depending on time, the teacher may have students complete 5-10 different problems.
Guided Practice: We do (Teacher 25%, Students 75%): 20 minutes
1. Give each student a page containing rectangular fraction slips and a page containing circular fraction slips.
2. For this lesson, the students will be using the whole, half, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth, tenth, and twelfth fraction
slips. The other do not need to be cut out.
3. Have students color each fraction a different color. For example, each of the 1/8 slips may be green, while the 1/12
slips may be purple. Color choice does not matter, as long as each fraction is different so that students can tell them
apart.
4. Once students finish coloring, have them cut out the slips.
5. Explain to students that these slips are visual representations of what real fractions would look like. When all
fractions of one kind are placed together, they will form 1 whole.
6. As an example, have students use the rectangular slips to place 1 whole next to 4/4. When all of the fourths are
lined up, they will be the same length as 1 whole.
7. Similarly, when 4/4 of the circular slips are placed together, they also make 1 whole circle.
8. To experiment with different equivalent fractions, the teacher will display several fractions on the board. Students
may work in small groups or independently to solve these fractions using their fraction slips.
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9. As students work on a fraction, they may use either the rectangular or the circular fraction slips to create that
fraction. They will then experiment with different types of slips to create a fraction that is equivalent to the given
fraction.
10. Have students write down equivalent fractions as they find them. For example, if the fraction in question is 4/8, a
student might see that 2/4 is equivalent. As an answer, the student will write 4/8 = 2/4.
11. Students will be encouraged to find as many equivalent fractions as they can for each problem, as some might have
more than one.
12. Challenge students to notice the relationship between the numerators and denominators of the equivalent fractions.
Equivalent fractions include a numerator and a denominator that are multiplied by the same variable. (Example: 1/2
= (1*2)/(2*2) = 2/4).
13. As students work, the teacher will move around the classroom and observe each student, providing review or
assistance as needed. If the teacher notices that many students are struggling to find equivalent fractions, she may
go back and review with some examples as a full class. If the teacher notices that one student in particular is
struggling, she will provide that student with one on one assistance to help him or her to better understand the
concept of equivalent fractions.
14. Give each student a plastic baggie and remind them to put their fraction slips into these when they are done using
them.
Independent Practice: You do (Teacher 0%, Students 100%): 20 minutes
1. The teacher will hand each student a paper plate. Have students divide their plate into equal sections using a
marker. Recommend that students divide into either eight, ten, or twelve pieces.
2. Explain to students that this plate represents a pizza and that today, students are going to be pizza chefs.
3. Students may select which ingredients to place on their pizza, and may choose how many slices to place each
ingredient on.
4. Explain that students must use at least five ingredients, and that all five must be on a different number of slices.
Ingredients may overlap.
5. Students will draw ingredients on their pizza using different colored markers. Once the ingredients are drawn, the
student will write the number of slices with a certain ingredient over the total number of slices on the back of their
plate (Example: Green pepper = 4/12).
6. Next, students will generate at least one equivalent fraction for each ingredient. Students may use their fraction slips
to assist with this or may recall the relationship between numerators and denominators to remind them how to create
equivalent fractions. Write the equivalent fraction next to the original fraction (Example: Green pepper = 4/12 =
1/3).
7. Once the students complete this, it will be turned in to the teacher to be graded as a summative assessment. This
assignment will ensure that students have met the objective for the lesson.
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3. Higher level students may also be asked to attempt to simplify their fractions, such as during independent practice.
The teacher may briefly explain that a simplified fraction is an equivalent fraction to the fraction in question that has
the lowest possible numerator and denominator. For example, when finding an equivalent fraction to 4/8, encourage
the students to go further than 2/4, and to use 1/2, which is the simplified form.
4. Students who are lower level will also receive differentiation. These students will only be asked to provide one
equivalent fraction for each fraction in question. While they may choose to attempt to find more, a single response
will be just as acceptable.
5. These students may also be encouraged to utilize their fraction slips for extra assistance throughout the lesson. The
fraction slips will continue to visually aid the students, so that if the numbers and relationships does not quite make
sense yet, they will still have the opportunity to view what each fraction looks like.
6. The teacher will also give these students more one on one assistance and will review the concepts with them as they
work. The teacher may demonstrate an example problem for the students if needed, and will observe to make sure
that they understand the lesson material.
7. This lesson will be taught using multimodality, and will accommodate to various learning styles. During explicit
instruction, the teacher will explain concepts verbally, and will also utilize the classroom SMART board to write
down information. This will accommodate for both visual and auditory learners. Additionally, the teacher will use
a musical video that students can move to, while listening to and reading the lyrics. This will incorporate kinesthetic
learners, as well as visual and auditory learners. Later, the teacher will give each student a white board and a marker
to practice finding equivalent fractions. The teacher will orally ask a question, and will also visually present it on
the board. The students will be working hands-on with their white boards to respond to questions, so this activity
will incorporate tactile learning styles in addition to auditory and visual. During guided practice, tactile learners will
get to be more involved through a hands-on activity involving the use of fraction slips to discover equivalent
fractions. This activity will allow student to piece together different fractions in order to see whether or not they are
equivalent. Finally, for independent practice, the teacher will give oral instructions for another hands-on activity
involving building a pizza. This activity will also allow for students to gain a visual understanding of what fractions
look like, and will allow them to discover equivalent fractions for themselves.
8. This lesson will accommodate for the student with dyslexia through its use of many graphics, as well as through the
teacher’s auditory instructions. Throughout the lesson, the teacher will use images of fractions as she explains the
content. Later, the student will be given fraction slips to assist with visual learning and help the student to
understand the concepts without doing much reading. The teacher will also say important terms out loud as well as
write them down, so that the student will be able to hear the terms in order to familiarize with them. During
independent practice, the teacher will provide oral instructions so that the student is not expected to read them on her
own.
9. The lesson will accommodate for the ELL student as well. The use of graphics will appeal to this student as well as
the student with dyslexia, as he will be able to look at the fraction images and fraction slips to gain a better
understanding of equivalent fractions. The teacher will point to specific fractions as she names them, so that the
student can see which fractions are being discussed, and which fractions they are equivalent to. During independent
practice, the teacher will assist this student by demonstrating the process of creating the paper plate pizza. The
teacher will give the student a sample paper plate pizza and will point to the steps for creating it. For example, she
will point to the lines that divide the pizza, then to an ingredient. She will count the slices with that ingredient, flip
over the sample plate, and point to the written fraction, along with the equivalent fraction. A copy of the
instructions will also be provided in the student’s native language in order to provide extra assistance if need be.
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2. The lesson will also use Dewey’s idea of learning by doing. Instead of simply watching the teacher explain how to
create equivalent fractions, the students will receive the opportunity to do so on their own through various hands on
activities such as building a pizza. These activities will allow the students to receive a firsthand experience of using
coordinate planes, and will be more memorable than if a teacher simply explained the concepts to them.
3. This lesson also uses the ideas of wait time by Mary Budd Rowe. Whenever a student is asked a question, or is
instructed to complete an activity of some sort, the teacher will give him or her ample time to do so. This will
reduce the pressure to immediately come up with a response, and will allow for the student to think more about his
or her responses or actions before presenting them. This will lead to more thought out answers from students, and
will give them the chance to better understand the information that they are responding to.
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