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Lesson Plan for
Equivalent Fractions using BarCulator |
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| Kaidy manipulative
- BarCulator |
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| Objective: |
The
students use BarCulators to discover the rule for re-naming
equivalent fractions. |
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| Directions: |
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1. |
To begin the lesson,
ask if any students in the class are the same height. Have those
who volunteer stand back-to-back to find two or more of the
class members who are exactly the same height. Explain
that these students have equivalent heights. The
focus of this lesson will be equivalent fractions
- and using the BarCulator, we will be finding fractions
with equivalent heights. |
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2. |
The students are asked
to sort the BarCulator pieces into piles of like
colored pieces (i.e. all 1/24 pieces in a pile, all 1/12 pieces
in a pile, etc.) |
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3. |
Have students set up
one BarCulator with a ½ piece placed firmly into the
base of the BarCulator. The bar/edge provides a stop
point for the pieces that allows for easier manipulation. The
two BarCulators are lined up side-by-side. |
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4. |
Using the sorted piles
one at a time, find how many ¼ pieces would fit into the other BarCulator
that would make the exact same height. The students must place
the ¼ pieces firmly into the base of the BarCulator and
stack as many as possible to reach the exact same height as ½. |
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5. |
Now using the 1/3
pieces - and having the Barculators side-by-side, ask the
students how many 1/3 pieces would make exactly ½. |
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(The students will
discover that there is no match using 1/3 pieces.) |
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6. |
Continue finding how
many pieces are needed to reach the exact height of the ½ piece
using 1/6 pieces, then 1/8 pieces, then 1/12 and 1/24 pieces.
After each, record the number of pieces required to have the
exact height as the height of ½. After each pile is used, be
sure to write the numbers on the board or overhead so that all
are recorded: |
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½ = 2/4 = 3/6 =
4/8 = 6/12 = 12/24 |
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(such as
demonstrated on Attachment
1) |
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| The students
then name all the patterns they see and create a rule for finding all
fractions equivalent to ½. |
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| Ask students if
there were 26 pieces, how many would be needed to be equivalent to 1/2,
etc. |
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| The lesson can
continue using the two BarCulators side-by-side and two of the
one-thirds pieces together. This time looking for any combination that
is the same height as 2/3's. Each time use the ¼ pile of pieces, then
1/6 pieces, 1/8 pieces, 1/12 pieces, and 1/24 pieces. |
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| The bright colors,
clear labeling and stopping edge offer different types of learners
visual and tactile materials to help ensure understanding of equivalent
fractions. |
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| Extension: Use
"Fraction Fun" pages 8, 9, and 10 |
| Click here
to view page 8 |
| Click here
to view page 9 |
| Click here
to view page 10 |
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Click here
for the List of Additional Lessons that could
use BarCulator and PieCulator |
