ALEX Learning Activity

  

Exploring Improper Fractions With Pattern Blocks

A Learning Activity is a strategy a teacher chooses to actively engage students in learning a concept or skill using a digital tool/resource.

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  This learning activity provided by:  
Author: Samantha Wallace
System:Limestone County
School:Cedar Hill Elementary School
  General Activity Information  
Activity ID: 2215
Title:
Exploring Improper Fractions With Pattern Blocks
Digital Tool/Resource:
Interactive Pattern Block Tool
Web Address – URL:
Overview:

This activity is an exploration of mixed numbers, improper fractions, multiplying fractions by a whole number, and adding fractions with unlike denominators. The students will create a digital design using virtual pattern blocks. Counting the hexagon as one whole, the students will multiply the fractional pieces of their design and then use a blank pattern block template to add fractions with unlike denominators and find the total value for the picture.

This activity results from the ALEX Resource Development Summit.

  Associated Standards and Objectives  
Content Standard(s):
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.


Learning Objectives:

Students will be able to use models to represent improper fractions and mixed numbers.

Students will be able to add fractions with unlike denominators using a visual model.

Students will be able to multiply fractions by a whole number using visual models.

  Strategies, Preparations and Variations  
Phase:
Before/Engage, During/Explore/Explain
Activity:

The students will explore fractions by creating pictures using pattern blocks. This is an exploration activity to set the stage for explicit instruction on converting improper fractions to mixed numbers, adding fractions with unlike denominators, and multiplying fractions by a whole number.

  • Explain that the students are going to create a design to help learn about fractions.
  • Show the pattern block tool on the board and explain how to manipulate the pieces (place/remove, rotate, etc.). Explain that the yellow hexagon is “one whole” and lead the students to figure out the fractional amounts for the other pieces. The students should see that it takes three blue pieces to make one yellow piece, so each one represents ⅓. The red trapezoid is ½, the blue rhombus is ⅓, and the green triangle is ⅙.
  • The students should record the values for each shape in their journals.
  • Ask several turn-and-talk questions to build the foundation of the pieces as fractions, such as:
    • If you wanted to show the fraction ⅔, what pieces would you need?
    • Which is greater, 2 green pieces or 1 red piece?
    • How many different ways could you show the amount 3/6?

  • Explain that the students are going to be building a design using the pattern block pieces. They can use only the yellow, red, blue, and green pieces (the others aren’t exact fractional amounts). There are templates available with the digital tool if the students are struggling with creativity.
  • After the students have finished building their design, they should record the quantity of each shape used in their journals (6 hexagons, 14 trapezoids, etc.).
  • Show an example design (a flower is easy to make) and model how to calculate the total for the entire design.  A blank pattern block template is helpful -- the teacher can provide these for the students to use as a resource during the calculations.  The students combine the pieces of their design by shading in sections of the blank shapes on the template. Students should count the total number of “wholes” they were able to make to get the total value for the design.
  • Students should record their totals as both an improper fraction and a mixed number in their journal.  For example: 14 green triangles = 14/6 = 2 2/6.  Students can then use the blank template to combine all of the values together to find the total value for the picture.
  • After students have finished calculating their totals, ask a few questions to debrief and check student understanding:
    • How many thirds does it take to make one whole? What happens if you use more than three?
    • How do we add together pieces of different sizes, like ½ and ⅙? (Lead the students to see that we have to compare them to a common shape. This sets the stage for finding common denominators.)

Assessment Strategies:

Observe to see if students are able to correctly shade in the blank shapes on the pattern block tool sheet. Check for any gaps in understanding related to comparing pieces of different sizes or in modeling fractions greater than one whole. Also, check to make sure that the total sum of the design is a reasonable answer.


Advanced Preparation:

Prepare copies of the blank pattern block tool sheets for the students to use as a resource during the calculating section of the lesson. You may wish to laminate these and have the students use dry erase markers so they can be reused in further lessons or in centers.

Make a sample design using the pattern block tool to use for modeling the procedure.

Variation Tips (optional):

  • Consider continuing the debriefing discussion to explicitly teach converting improper fractions and mixed numbers, finding the common denominator, or writing the equations for multiplying fractions.
  • If students need more direct instruction, consider having everyone build the same design and calculate the totals for the picture together (guided practice).
  • For enrichment, give students a total (ex: 24 ⅓ ) and have them work to make a design that meets the total. An extra challenge would be to include restrictions or requirements: at least 16 green triangles, an odd number of red trapezoids, no more than 5 yellow hexagons, etc.
Notes or Recommendations (optional):
 
  Keywords and Search Tags  
Keywords and Search Tags: adding fractions, equivalent, fractions, improper, mixed numbers, pattern blocks, unlike denominators