My third grade students started a new unit on fractions this week. They’ve explored fractions before, but more along the lines of identifying different types of fractions and adding/subtracting with common denominators. This new unit involves students finding fractions of sets and a heavy dose of fraction computation. Students need to have a deep understanding of fractions to be able to add them and show a visual model. So on Friday the class practiced skills associated with finding fractions of sets. Students were given this prompt:
Draw four different ways to show 3/4 in the box below.
The student models fell into a few different categories.
- A number line
- Pie, rectangles, squares
- Dots or arrays
- Angles
The class reviewed the results and we had a discussion about the different ways to represent fractions. Next week the class will be combining these models to add and subtract mixed numbers.
Educational Aspirations 
Thanks for the details! I am using your prompts with my 10th grade geometry class as number talks. My high schoolers are so afraid of and not fluent with fractions! I want to change that!
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For me, learning fractions through visualization is the best method because I can easily picture out what is the meaning of fraction. Also, this kind of method is like learning through actual experience because actual experience means you see, feel, or all your senses are used.
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Agreed and thanks for the comment. By the way, your fraction calculator is the bee’s knees!
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