3FN25 – Math – Finding and Using Equivalent Fractions

How do FreeNode lessons work?

FreeNodes are instructor-led schooling lessons with a unique approach, granting you the freedom to independently teach using a personalized lesson plan. This autonomy enables you to tailor your lessons to suit students’ individual needs, learning styles, and interests.

To use a FreeNode, read the provided class outline & follow the formatting provided for each class. Make sure to touch on the Theocratic Connection in each class. Follow the outline closely so it is aligned with our main at-home curriculum.

How Do I Use the FreeNode?

Read this lesson plan before class to familiarize yourself with the ideas and concepts you’ll be teaching the students. You may print this page out if you need to use it as a reference point during live classes.

This lesson is a guide, but feel free to expand on the content or decrease/increase what you teach depending on the learning levels of the students in your class or the amount of time you have to cover the material.

Can I show videos in FN classes?

Yes, feel free to include additional material to supplement the class lesson material. Videos, Physical Objects, Games, Activities, etc. are okay to share in live classes.

Videos should have no advertisements or logos and should be viewed by you before showing them to the students to ensure no offensive or questionable content is included.

The video should make up only 1-3 minutes of the live class and should not take the place of instructor-led instruction. Videos should be supplementary only.

How do bookmarks work?

Bookmarks help you keep track of lessons you’re going to teach in future live classes. The bookmarks you see are for all your bookmarked lessons across all grades.

You can bookmark a lesson by visiting the lesson you want to bookmark and clicking the “bookmark” button in the bookmark section.

You can remove a single bookmark by visiting a lesson you’ve bookmarked and clicking the “bookmark” button again to unbookmark it.

You can clear all of your bookmarks by clicking the “clear all bookmarks” button. Be careful, this will erase all of your bookmarks.

Class Lesson Plan

Objectives:

Students will understand the concept of benchmark fractions and their practical applications.
Students will learn about equivalent fractions and how to identify them.
Students will be able to compare fractions using manipulatives.
Students will practice writing fractions in their simplest form by identifying common factors.

Materials:

Whiteboard/Chalkboard and markers/chalk
Visual aids (fraction strips, illustrations of benchmark fractions)
Online or offline manipulatives (optional)

Introduction (3 minutes):

Define benchmark fractions and explain their importance in real-life scenarios.
Introduce the concept of equivalent fractions and provide examples to illustrate their meaning.
Emphasize the practical use of fractions in measuring, dividing, and comparing quantities.

Theocratic Connections:

N/A

Activity 1 – Benchmark Fractions (6 minutes):

Discuss commonly used benchmark fractions such as one-half, one-fourth, and one-third. Explain that they are fractions that are easy to remember.
Highlight situations where benchmark fractions are frequently employed (e.g., baking, dividing meals). (For example, benchmark fractions like one half, one fourth, and one third are used a lot when baking. Measuring cups can divide 1 cup of flour into thirds, fourth or halves.)
Engage students in a brief discussion about how benchmark fractions simplify tasks in everyday life.

Activity 2 – Equivalent Fractions (6 minutes):

Explain the definition of equivalent fractions as fractions with the same value but different representations. Provide examples of equivalent fractions, emphasizing the relationship between numerator and denominator. Guide students in understanding that equivalent fractions take up the same amount of area or quantity. (e.g. 1/2 is the same as 2/4. They both take up the same amount of area, even though the denominator and numerator are different. They are equivalent, which means “the same” or “equal in value.”)

Activity 3 – Fractions Strips (6 minutes):

Introduce fraction strips as visual tools for comparing fractions.
Demonstrate how to use fraction strips to compare fractions and determine which is larger or smaller.
Engage students in a hands-on activity using fraction strips to compare fractions in pairs.

Activity 4 – Writing Fractions in Simplest Form (6 minutes):

Introduce the concept of writing fractions in their simplest form for easier mathematical operations. Explain that a fraction is in its simplest form when we change it into an equivalent fraction that is smaller. So, for example, the fraction 2/4 is the same as 1/2. So 1/2 is the simplest form of 2/4. Provide examples of changing larger fractions into simpler equivalents.

Guide students through the process of simplifying fractions by finding common factors and dividing both numerator and denominator. (e.g. simpilfy 4/6 by dividing both the numerator and the denominator by 2 to get the fraction 2/3.)

Explain to students of the important rule that they fractions can only be made smaller (simplified) if both the top and bottom number can be split evenly. (e.g. 2/3 cannot be simplified into a smaller fraction)

Conclusion (3 minutes):

Summarize key points, emphasizing the significance of benchmark fractions and the practical application of equivalent fractions.
Reinforce the idea that simplifying fractions makes mathematical operations more manageable.

Assessment:

Informally assess student understanding through class discussions, observations during activities, and their ability to apply fraction concepts in practice problems. Encourage students to explain their reasoning when discussing benchmark fractions and equivalent fractions.