How to Teach Equivalent Fractions

Equivalent fractions can be a difficult concepts for many math students in the elementary grades. Make it visual with this simple and low-prep activity.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 4 different colors of regular size and weight copy paper (1 pc each for each student)
• Overheads of the fraction pieces described here.

1. Before the lesson, get several sheets of graph paper. You can find it online and just print it if you don't have any. There is a link below for the Google page with several resources.

2. Divide one sheet of graph paper in half by drawing a line across horizontally. The size of the squares or shape of the 1/2 size piece you create really isn't important. Mark each section as "1/2". Make one copy for each of your students.

3. Divide another sheet of graph paper into quarters. Mark each section as "1/4" Make one copy on a different color than you did for the 1/2 size pieces for each of your students.

4. Make similar graph paper sheets on different colors for 1/8 size and 1/16 size pieces. Mark each piece with the size of the whole that it represents.

5. Now its time for the lesson. Show students how two 1/4 size pieces fit beautifully right on top of the 1/2 size piece. Ask students to find 5 other ways to make equivalent fractions using their pieces. They will need to cut out all of their fraction pieces. They should draw how they made their models on a separate paper.

6. After they find the 5 ways to make different equivalent fractions, share some different equivalent fractions that the students found. Demonstrate that you can get the same answers by multiplying by the same number on the top and the bottom of the fraction and that you don't need to carry around cumbersome fraction pieces. You can multiply by ANY number (same number on top and bottom) and make infinite numbers of equivalent fractions. Show students how you can divide to reduce fractions as well.

7. You can use overhead transparency fraction pieces to help you model and describe the different equivalent fractions. Students could draw their models on the board or take turns modeling their fractions on the overhead.

8. You could laminate the pieces and save them from year to year or you could let your students take them home to model equivalent fractions with their parents. You could make this a homework assignment.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget to read trade books to your students. "Gator Pie" is a great book about fractions, although it is out of print. Your library might have it. I found a copy used and paid a lot more than I wanted to for it!
• Also try the Hershey's Fraction Book. You can make an overhead of the Hershey bar and model the parts in the story as you read it, or have a student volunteer do it!
• Be sure to model both multiplication and division to make equivalent fractions.
• Students will need this skill later to add/subtract fractions with different denominators.

Resources

• graph paper resources

[tocuriousgeorge]

on 1/15/2009 Great lesson!

[Upon-Request]

on 1/15/2009 Good math tips! Thanks