Does anyone have any creative ways of teaching equivalent fractions? We have just started working with fractions- the kids can represent and identify fractions. We started working on equivalents and I am about to lose my mind! They don't all have a sufficient grasp of their multiplication facts to be able to find equivalents that way. Any help would be great!
You can use a multiplication chart to find equivalent fractions and also to reduce fractions.
Example:
Find 1 and 3 in the first column follow your fingers over to the next number in the row- 2 and 6, then to the next numbers 3 and 9 etc.
This might help with the multiplication problem as well!!! I hope I explained this ok and I hope this helps.
Hi
I always use illuminations.nctm.org
Go into activities, search third grade and there will be a link to show the games. Scroll down and look for equivalent fractions. It is really good, They use either a circle or a square, there is a number line to represent the fraction on it. the kids love it and it is a good visual for them.
Hope it helps
I use cross multiplication to teach fractions. Of course, I first introduce the frations on the number line. Then cross multiplication. The larger product is the greater fraction. It is an easy trick that helps the kids "get it."
I made felt circles for the kids to play with and compare fractions. I bought about 7-8 pieces of 10 cent felt squares and drew circles on each piece about the size of a large coffee can. Then I carefully divided each one into different fractions. The kids could place 2/4 on top of the 1/2 piece and see that they are equal. Same goes for thirds and sixths. They love to play with them. Maybe you have a parent volunteer that could help make them for you.
I always introduce the equivalent fraction concept with Hershey bars. Everyone gets his own Hershey bar. We find 12 parts to begin with, then break the bar in half and realize that 6/12 =1/2 and then we bread each half into halves and realize that 2/4=1/2 and 3/12=1/4 and so on. Then we eat 2 pieces(the best part) and look at tenths, eat two pieces and look at eighths and so on.
Okay, say you want to find ?. You cross multiply like this.....top # which in this ex is 2 x the bottom number on other side which in this ex is 2 = 4. You put the 4 under the ? side. Then you do the same on the other side. top # which in this ex is 1 x ? will give me 4. Tell you students you want to find a number that when multiplied with 1 will give you 4.
When showing the students this, I use different colored markers on the board.....one color to each step to show students. I draw lines with the different colors at first and then gradually do it without the lines.
((When I draw lines, it sort of looks like < and > signs......but that is not the intention...))
--I don't think kids have to know their multiplication facts to understand equivalent fractions. They just have to know how to "count by." If the fraction is 1/4, they have to be able to count by one in the numerator and four in the denominator.
--Another thing I did was draw fractions number lines (about seven inches long) on a piece of paper, one under another with enough space between lines so my students could label the points. The first line was not divided. The points were labeled 0 and 1.
The second line was divided into halves. The students labeled the points on the line 0/2, 1/2, and 2/2.
The third line was divided into thirds. The students labeled the points 0/3, 1/3, 2/3, 3/3.
You probably get the idea. The remaining lines were divided into fourths, fifths, sixths, eighths, tenths, and twelfths, and the points were labeled. (It is very important to be sure that 1/2, 2/4, 3/6 etc. line up vertically.)
Then my students took a piece of string and laid it vertically. It touched the equivalent fractions. You have not only taught equivalent fractions, you have also taught labeling a number line with fractions between zero and one.
To find equivalent fractions, I tell students that whatever they multiply the top (numerator) by, they also have to multiply the bottom (denominator) by. I tell them to choose any # between 2 and 9. Let's say they want to find an equivalent fraction for
3/4 they would multiply by 2/2, 3/3, 4/4 etc. to find equivalent fractions. e.g. 3/4 x 2/2 = 6/8, 3/4 x 3/3 = 9/12, 3/4 x 4/4 = 12/16. So, equivalent fractions for 3/4 are 6/8, 9/12, 12/16
There is fraction pizza game that allows students to match equivalent fractions by stacking slices on top of one another. Ex; a slice of pizza the size of a 1/3 will take "2" 2/6 to cover. it is really fun and the kids get a chance to make their favorite slices of pizza while learning about equivalent fractions. Hope this helps. I also created equivalent fraction step books. I have it at school and will have to email the directions on how to create the book.
03-14-2007, 04:42 PM
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