Adding Fractions Lesson – The Fraction Calculator That Will Help Your Children!

By
Australian Curriculum Lessons Admin Account
-
0
9779

Summary of Lesson Plan:

In this lesson, students will learn how to add fractions. Students will visualize the process of adding fractions through the use of an online fraction calculator.

Australian Curriculum Links:

Mathematics / Year 6 / Number and Algebra / Fractions and decimals:

  • ACMNA126 – Solve problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions with the same or related denominators.

 

Lesson Plan Sequence:

Orientation: 2 minutes

Focus: Students attention at the smart board  showing the fraction calculator

Engage: Tell students today we are learning about adding fractions through the use of an online fraction calculator.

Access: Enter the values (1 + 1) in the fraction calculator.

What are fractions? Fractions are used when we need to count a part of something. For example, we know this is a whole pizza (point at the fraction visualization), but what if we wanted to add the parts of a pizza? To figure this out we use fractions.

 

Guided Discovery: 10 mins

The process of adding fractions is straightforward if the denominators are the same. Simply add the numerators, and the resulting fraction has the same denominator. Remember these 3 steps:

  • Step 1: Make sure the bottom numbers (the denominators) are the same.
  • Step 2: Add the top numbers (the numerators), put the answer over the denominator.
  • Step 3: Simplify the fraction (if needed)

 

Enter the values (1/8 + 1/8) directly into the corresponding locations of the fraction calculator.

So one slice of pizza (1/8) plus another (1/8) equals two slices of pizza (2/8). That fraction could be reduced to 1/4, and mentally that makes sense because those two slices represent one quarter of the whole.

Give another example. This time tell the students to assume that this is a pie (point at the fraction visualization).

Enter the values (1/2 + 1/2) into the fraction calculator.

So one-half of a pie (1/2) plus another (1/2) equals one whole pie (2/2). That fraction could be reduced to 1, and mentally that makes sense because those two halves represent one whole pie.

Next, show the students how to add fractions with unlike denominators. When adding fractions with different denominators, the denominators must be equal. Remember these 3 steps:

  • Step 1: Re-write each equivalent fraction using the new denominator.
  • Step 2 : Now you can add the numerators, and keep the denominator of the equivalent fractions.
  • Step 3 : Re-write your answer as a simplified or reduced fraction, if needed.

 

Enter the values (1/4 + 1/2) into the fraction calculator.

Find the least common denominator of 4 and 2. In the example given, the common denominator is 4. So we could turn the 1/2 into the equivalent fraction 2/4.

Enter the values (1/4 + 2/4) in the fraction calculator.

Now we are adding 1/4 and 2/4 which equals 3/4.

 

Exploration: 15 mins

  • Get certain students to try the fraction calculator and let them ask questions about it.
  • Distribute fraction addition worksheets and let the students answer them.

 

Assessment Ideas:

  • Collect answered worksheets.
  • Use the fraction calculator to check calculations of adding fractions.

 

Resources:

Download all of the lesson-related resources below:

 

 

If you like this lesson plan, or have an idea to improve it, please consider sharing it on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook or leave a comment below.

 

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

RELATED RESOURCESMORE FROM AUTHOR