MS.

DROWN'S 4th GRADE NEWS

4th Grade
N ewsletter
DEAR 4TH GRADE FAMILIES AND PARTNERS
In math students are continuing to work with
fractions! This will prepare them for units on
other rational numbers in the form of decimals,
ratios, & proportions. We are focusing on
common denominators. This will help us when
comparing fractions with unlike denominators.
Some fractions have denominators that are clear
multiples of one another (1/ 2 and 1/ 4) while others
are not quite as evident without taking extra steps
(1/ 2 and 1/ 3). To help students with this, I have
introduced two technology applications to students
to learn and practice their skills. This newsletter
will focus on the app Fractions- by Braining Camp
and two ABCya! games.
Try these at home to practice technology and
fraction skills!
Warmly,
M s. Drown
FRACTIONS IN THE WORLD: MAKING
MATH MEANINGFUL
Imagine you got pizza with a friend! You wanted
a large pizza with 10 slices to split. You tell the
server you would like 5 slices with olives on top.
Your friend asks for half the pizza to have
pepperoni. What if the chef did not know 5/ 10
= 1/ 2? H e might make your pizza wrong!
M aybe he would make 1 slice pepperoni, not
realizing it is the same whole!
1
APP: FRACTIONS- BY BRAINING CAMP
LESSON
Educational Benefits
This iPad app provides practice for
finding and comparing common
denominators, but can provided targeted
practice for other fraction skills. Each
topic in the app includes a lesson,
manipulatives, questions, and challenges.
This is a great educational tool because it
models how we teach students. We begin
by using manipulatives before moving on
to strictly math with numbers and
M AN IPULATIVES symbols. This app makes the connection
between the two models clear as well.
Students will build on common multiples
and least common multiples (LCM ) to be
able to compare uncommon
denominators. This makes it clear which
fraction is >, <, or = because we can then
compare the same size parts of a whole.
This app provides great, explicit guided
practice!
H ow to Use
Lesson; Click through step by step instructions CH ALLEN GE
and examples. Refresh your learning from class
M anipulatives: Change the size of the fractions.
M ultiples of each denominator will be marked
on the hundreds chart. When you see both the
blue circle and green square, you've found a
common multiple. The first is the LCM !
Questions: Complete practice questions. Use
the markers for scratch work. Submit to check
your work. Each time provides new problems!
Challenge: Try to earn 1000 points in 2.5
minutes! Use the markers. Enter your answers
into the boxes.
2
WEBSITE: ABCYA!--> CCSS.4.NF.A.2
Educational Benefits
EQUIVALEN T ABCya! is organized by grade level and
Common Core Standard. I have picked
FRACTION BIN GO the two games of most value to your
children for our current topic. Equivalent
Fraction Bingo pushes your child to find
equivalent fractions with unlike
denominators. Students can test the card
against their own options. Comparing
N umber Values pushes students to
determine which fraction is >, <, or =
among fractions with unlike
denominators. As an incentive, students
earn a car racing game for correct
answers. While the learning is not as
targeted as the iPad app, it provides,
engaging practice through games that
practice the skills at hand. This allows
students to independently apply tools and
H ow to Use strategies we have learned as well.

Equivalent Fraction Bingo: COM PARIN G

- Choose regular to have fraction circles,
challenge for just the fractions
N UM BER VALUES
- Tap the equivalent fraction
Comparing N umber Values
- Select Fractions
- Drag >, <, or = over the question mark
- 5 right answers in a row = game!
TIP: Draw the fractions or use the LCM
to compare same size fractions