Overview

Grades

3+ (Ages 8+)

Time

40 minutes per lab

Unit Essential Question(s)

What do the numerator and denominator of a fraction tell you?
What patterns or relationships are there between equivalent fractions?

Unit Understandings

The following concepts will be covered throughout this Unit:

Identify fractional equivalents visually and numerically.
Describe the relationships between numerators, denominators, and whole numbers.

Lab Summary

Click on the following tabs for a summary of what the students will do and learn in each lab.

Lab 1 - Fractions

Main Focus Question: How do fractions connect to whole numbers?

Students will construct the Fractions Build in order to explore and explain concepts around fractional equivalency and comparison.
First, students will use one side of the build to visualize the concept of a whole, and identify as many whole equivalents as possible, using beams and plates that fit into the build.
Next, they will use both sides of the box to visualize, identify, and represent equivalent fractions, using beams and plates.
Throughout the lab, students will look for numerical patterns that emerge in their fraction representations, and will identify the mathematical relationships therein.

Unit Standards

Unit Standards will be addressed in every Lab within the Unit.

Common Core State Standards (CCSS)

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.3: Explain equivalence of fractions in special cases, an compare fractions by reasoning about their size.

How Standard is Achieved: In the Engage section, students construct the Fractions build as a tool to visualize the relationship between parts and whole with fractions.

In Play Part 1, students use VEX GO beams and plates to create whole equivalent fractions using one side of the Fraction build, and write and draw their whole fractions using graph paper.

In Play Part 2, students expand upon this by using both sides of the box to identify equivalent fractions, as they compare the amount of space the pieces take up on either side of the Fractions build.

In the Mid Play Break and Share discussions, students talk about strategies used to identify equivalent fractions, and explore the numerical relationships of fractions to identify patterns or “rules” about them.

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