Home> Grade 4> Fractions Less Than One Half Directions: Using the digits 1 to 9 at most one time each, fill in the boxes to create as many fractions as possible that are less than one half. How can you tell if a fraction is less than one half?
What patterns do you notice?
How can you be certain you have all possible solutions?
16 fractions less than one half Source: Christine Newell Tags 4.NF.2 Christine Newell DOK 2: Skill / Concept Check Also
Directions: Using the digits 1 to 9 at most one time each, place a digit …
Now that students have had plenty of practice with comparing fractions to a half, this part is just building upon that same foundation! Hands On with Fraction BarsBuilding upon what students know, they are now ready to compare a fraction to a half! In order to help students understand this in a little more depth, start with a quick hands on activity. Activity: Less than, Equal to, or More than ½ – Work with their partners to figure out if the specific fraction is more, less, or equal to 1/2 “…. is less than, equal to, or more than ½ because …. is equivalent to ½ and …. is less than, equal to, or more than …. “7/12 is more than 1/2, because 6/12 is equivalent to 1/2, and 7/12 is more than 6/12” What I’ve seen that has helped students tremendously is the verbal communication part of this. Whatever activity you choose to do to help with practice, make sure they are verbalizing their thinking. Using the sentence stem that has been provided! Moving away from Fraction BlocksComparing Fraction half to a fraction with an even denominator 1. Total of 24 pieces2. Take half of 24 (divide by 2)3. There are 12 in each half4. If there are a total of 24 pieces, one half is equal to 12/24 5. 12/24 is less than 1/2 because 12/24 is = 1/2 and 17 pieces is more than 12 pieces. Activity: Card Talk. Around the World. “I can compare fractions to a 1/2” 1) Find an empty desk and flip over the card. 3) Compare the fraction to a 1/2 verbally.4) Record your findings. 5) Flip the card face down and find a different empty desk. Comparing Fraction half to a fraction with an odd denominator The great thing about this is that if you have read in my previous post about comparing fractions with a common numerator, this will be NO PROBLEM! Review: when fractions have a common numerator, they have the same number of pieces, so you have to look at the denominator, the size of the piece. Comparing 4/7 to a 1/2 1) You can’t take half of sevenths because it is an odd number. 4/7 is more than 1/2, because 4/8 is equivalent to 1/2, and sevenths is larger than eighths. Activity: Card Talk. Around the World. 1) Find an empty desk and flip over the card. 2) Both partners find the fraction half (look at the denominator and find half of the denominator). Discuss your fraction halves – if you need, use your fraction strips. 3) Compare the fraction to a ½ verbally.4) Record your findings. 5) Flip the card face down and find a different empty desk. Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice, Practice! Honestly, if you take the time to break fractions down to where students are building a good foundation with ample amounts of practice, your students WILL ROCK FRACTIONS! My students have had more confidence with fractions than ever before and the 5th grade teachers have come to me saying they’ve never had an easier time teaching fractions. Break it down, make it fun, and have students conversing! This is a part of our fraction series. Check out these other posts!
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Examples of fractions less than one-half include, one-fourth, one-third, one-fifth and three-eighths. Any fraction that represents less than half of a whole is considered less than one-half. A fraction is not a whole number, but instead it is a representation of a whole. For example, if there is a single pie, then the individual slices would be a fraction of the pie itself. In the instance of the pie having six slices, then every single slice would represent one-sixth of the whole pie. One-half is a very special fraction as it represents half of a whole. For example, one-half of a pie with six slices would be three slices or three-sixths. There are several ways to determine if a fraction is less than one-half. One of the simplest methods is to observe the numerator and denominator of the numbers. The numerator of one-half, one, is exactly half of the denominator, two. The same stands for three-sixths. This means that if the numerator is less than half of the denominator, or in other words, less than half of a whole, the fraction is less than one-half. For example, take three-sixths and reduce the three to two. This makes the fraction two-sixths, which is less than half of a whole. |