ALEX Classroom Resource

  

Solving Fraction Problems in Ecotopia

  Classroom Resource Information  

Title:

Solving Fraction Problems in Ecotopia

URL:

https://aptv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/mwnet-math-nf-ecotopia/solving-fraction-problems-in-ecotopia/

Content Source:

PBS
Type: Interactive/Game

Overview:

Students will solve problems using addition, subtraction, and multiplication of fractions in this interactive from WNET. In the accompanying classroom activity, students work in groups of two and watch a series of Cyberchase videos; answer associated discussion questions; and complete an activity that uses fraction knowledge, proportion, addition, and multiplication.

Content Standard(s):
Mathematics
MA2019 (2019)
Grade: 5
9. Model and solve real-word problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions referring to the same whole, including cases of unlike denominators, using visual fraction models or equations to represent the problem. Use benchmark fractions and number sense of fractions to estimate mentally, and assess the reasonableness of answers.

Example: Recognize an incorrect result 2/51/23/7 by observing that 3/7 < 1/2.
Unpacked Content
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Model and solve real-world problems involving sums and differences of fractions (including mixed numbers) with unlike denominators.
  • Use visual models to illustrate the problem situation involving fractions.
  • Use fraction understanding and estimation strategies to assess the reasonableness of answers.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • Fraction
  • Benchmark fraction
  • Denominator
  • Fraction model
  • Estimate
  • Reasonableness
  • Equation
  • Unlike denominator
  • Unlike units
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • The meaning and magnitude of fractions expressed in units of halves, fourths, eighths, thirds, sixths, twelfths, fifths, tenths, and hundredths.
  • Strategies to find sums of two or more fractions with like denominators.
  • Strategies to find the difference of two fractions with like denominators.
  • How to decompose a fraction greater than 1 and express as a mixed number.
    Example: 7/3 = 3/3 + 3/3 + 1/3 = 2 1/3.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • Solve real-word problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions with unlike denominators.
  • Represent problems using fraction models or equations.
  • Assess reasonableness of answers using estimation and benchmark fractions.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • solving word problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions with unlike units
  • Require strategies to find equivalent fractions in a common unit, and the sum or difference will be expressed in the common unit.
  • Can be assessed for reasonableness of answers using estimation strategies.
Diverse Learning Needs:
Essential Skills:
Learning Objectives:
M.5.9.1: Add and subtract mixed numbers with like denominators.
M.5.9.2: Recognize that comparisons are valid only when the two fractions refer to the same whole.
M.5.9.3: Record the results of comparisons with symbols >, =, or <, and justify the conclusions, e.g., by using a visual fraction model.
M.5.9.4: Recognize a fraction as a number on the number line; represent fractions on a number line diagram.
M.5.9.5: Recognize key terms to solve word problems.
M.5.9.6: Apply properties of operations for addition and subtraction.
M.5.9.7: Recall basic addition and subtraction facts.

Prior Knowledge Skills:
  • Use fraction equivalence to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers with unlike denominators.

Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
M.AAS.5.9 Illustrate equivalent fractions using models of wholes, halves, thirds, and fourths to add fractions with like denominators.


Mathematics
MA2019 (2019)
Grade: 5
10. Add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers with unlike denominators, using fraction equivalence to calculate a sum or difference of fractions or mixed numbers with like denominators.
Unpacked Content
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Use a variety of strategies and fraction equivalence to find sums and differences of fractions and mixed numbers with unlike denominators.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • Fraction
  • Denominator
  • Numerator
  • Visual Model
  • Sum
  • Difference
  • Equivalence
  • Unlike denominators
  • Unlike units
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • Strategies to determine if two given fractions are equivalent.
  • How to use a visual model to illustrate fraction equivalency.
  • Contextual situations for addition and subtraction.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • Use fraction equivalence to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers with unlike denominators.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
Addition and subtraction of fractions and mixed numbers with unlike units,
  • Require strategies to find equivalent fractions in a common unit, and the sum or difference will be expressed in the common unit.
  • Can be assessed for reasonableness of answers using estimation strategies.
Diverse Learning Needs:
Essential Skills:
Learning Objectives:
M.5.10.1: Add and subtract mixed numbers with like denominators, e.g., by replacing each mixed number with an equivalent fraction, and/or by using properties of operations and the relationship between addition and subtraction.
M.5.10.2: Explain equivalence of fractions in special cases, and compare fractions by reasoning about their size.
M.5.10.3: Identify two fractions as equivalent (equal) if they are the same size or the same point on a number line.
M.5.10.4: Recognize and generate simple equivalent fractions.
M.5.10.5: Express whole numbers as fractions, and recognize fractions that are equivalent to whole numbers.
M.5.10.6: Compare two fractions with the same numerator or the same denominator by reasoning about their size.
M.5.10.7: Recall basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts.

Prior Knowledge Skills:
  • Use fraction equivalence to add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers with unlike denominators.
Mathematics
MA2019 (2019)
Grade: 5
12. Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication to find the product of a fraction times a whole number or a fraction times a fraction.

a. Use a visual fraction model (area model, set model, or linear model) to show (a/b) x q and create a story context for this equation to interpret the product as a parts of a partition of q into b equal parts.

b. Use a visual fraction model (area model, set model, or linear model) to show (a/b) x (c/d) and create a story context for this equation to interpret the product.

c. Multiply fractional side lengths to find areas of rectangles, and represent fraction products as rectangular areas.

d. Find the area of a rectangle with fractional side lengths by tiling it with unit squares of the appropriate unit fraction side lengths to show that the area is the same as would be found by multiplying the side lengths.
Unpacked Content
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
Given a fraction times a whole number,
  • use visual models to illustrate the product to develop the procedure (a/b) × q.
  • Create a story context for the equation (a/b) × q.
Given a fraction times a fraction,
  • Use visual models to illustrate the product to develop the procedure (a/b) × (c/d).
  • Create a story context for the equation (a/b) × (c/d).
Given a rectangle with two fractional side lengths,
  • Use an area model to illustrate and find the rectangular area.
  • Find the area by tiling it with unit squares of the appropriate unit fraction.
Given a rectangle with fractional side lengths including mixed numbers,
  • Use an area model to illustrate and find the rectangular area to lead to answers in the form of whole numbers or mixed numbers.

  • Example: Using an area model, a rectangle with dimensions of 1 1/2 x 1 2/3 will have partial products of 1, 1/2, 1/3, and 1/6 and the sum of the partial products will give an area of 2 sq units.
  • Use an area model to find the area of a rectangle by tiling the rectangle with unit squares.

  • Example: Using an area model, a rectangle with dimensions 1 1/2 x 1 1/3 will be tiled with unit squares of 1/6 size showing the tiled partial products as 6/6, 3/6, 2/6, and 1/6 for a total area of 12/6 sq units, so it would take 12 tiles of size 1/6 units to cover the area of the rectangle.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • Fraction
  • Fraction model
  • Whole number
  • Area
  • Area model
  • Linear model
  • Set model
  • Tiling
  • Unit squares
  • Equation
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • How to write an equation involving repeated addition with fractions as a multiplication equation of a whole number times the fraction.
    Example: 2/9 + 2/9 + 2/9 + 2/9 = 4 x 2/9 = 8/9.
  • The relationship of partial products to an area model when multiplying by two whole numbers.
  • Area of a rectangle is determined by multiplying side lengths and is found in square units.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • Use previous understandings of multiplication to
  • Find products of a fraction times a whole number and products of a fraction times a fraction.
  • Use area models, linear models or set models to represent products.
  • Create a story context to represent equations (a/b) × q and (a/b) × (c/d) to interpret products.
  • Find area of rectangles with fractional side lengths and represent products as rectangular areas.
  • Find the area of a rectangle by tiling the area of a rectangle with unit squares.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • Any whole number can be written as a fraction.
  • The general rule for multiplication involving fractions can be justified through visual models.
  • A variety of contextual situations can be represented by multiplication involving fractions.
  • Tiling with unit squares can be used to find the area of a rectangle with fractional side lengths.
Diverse Learning Needs:
Essential Skills:
Learning Objectives:
M.5.12.1: Define proper fraction.
M.5.12.2: Multiply fractions using denominators between 2 and 5.
M.5.12.3: Identify proper and improper fractions.
M.5.12.4: Recall basic multiplication facts.
M.5.12.5: Model changing a whole number to a fraction.
M.5.12.6: Partition a rectangle into rows and columns of same-size squares, and count to find the total number of them.
M.5.12.7: Label the numerator and denominator of a fraction.
M.5.12.8: Count the area squares for the length and width.
M.5.12.9: Identify the width and length of a rectangle.

Prior Knowledge Skills:
  • Solve real-word problems involving multiplication of fractions and mixed numbers.
  • Write equations to represent the word situation.
  • Use visual fraction models to represent the problem.

Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
M.AAS.5.12 Determine the product of unit fractions with unlike denominators (limited to denominators of 2, 3, 4, 10) using visual models.


Mathematics
MA2019 (2019)
Grade: 5
14. Model and solve real-world problems involving multiplication of fractions and mixed numbers using visual fraction models, drawings, or equations to represent the problem.
Unpacked Content
Evidence Of Student Attainment:
Students:
  • Use a variety of strategies, including models, pictures, tables, and patterns to solve problems that provide a context for multiplying fractions and mixed numbers.
Teacher Vocabulary:
  • Fraction
  • Models
  • Mixed number
  • Multiplication
Knowledge:
Students know:
  • Contextual situations for multiplication.
  • How to use an area model to illustrate the product of two whole numbers and its relationship to partial products and extend this knowledge to illustrate products involving fractions and mixed numbers.
Skills:
Students are able to:
  • Solve real-word problems involving multiplication of fractions and mixed numbers.
  • Write equations to represent the word situation.
  • Use visual fraction models to represent the problem.
Understanding:
Students understand that:
  • A variety of strategies are used to model and solve problems that provide a context for multiplying fractions and mixed numbers.
  • Solutions are interpreted based on the meaning of the quantities and the context of the problem situation.
Diverse Learning Needs:
Essential Skills:
Learning Objectives:
M.5.14.1: Define improper fraction, mixed number, fraction, equations, numerator, denominator.
M.5.14.2: Multiply proper fractions with common denominators 2-10.
M.5.14.3: Solve problems using whole numbers.
M.5.14.4: Write number sentences for word problems.
M.5.14.5: Identify key terms to solve multiplication word problems.
Examples: times, every, at this rate, each, per, equal/equally, in all, total.
M.5.14.6: Recall basic multiplication facts.

Prior Knowledge Skills:
  • Divide unit fractions by a whole number and whole numbers by unit fractions.
  • Use visual models to illustrate quotients.
  • Create story contexts for division.
  • Use relationship between multiplication and division to explain quotients.

Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards
AAS Standard:
M.AAS.5.14 Use a model to solve multiplying a whole number by a unit fraction of 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4.


Tags: addition of fractions, fractions, multiplication of fractions, proportion, subtraction of fractions
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  This resource provided by:  
Author: Stephanie Carver
Alabama State Department of Education