Unit 3: Fractions and Decimals

Section 8: Representing, Comparing and Equivalence for fractions

Goals:
Resources: All of my fraction applets
Instructions for explanation videos about fractions

Fraction models and representations
 Videos:
Different models for fractions (ways to approach the idea of fraction)
Representations of fractions (how to draw part-whole and repeated unit fractions)
Readings:
The main types of fraction representations and what they do best (follow all of the "next"s at the bottom of the pages.
Assignment 49:
Draw representations for 3/4 July 20

Comparing fractions:
Exploration:
Do:
Fill out this exploration guide, using either fraction circle physical manipulatives you have cut out, or either the fraction circle or fraction bars applet (or some mixture of the two--experiment with the different representations to see what gives you the most interesting insights)
Watch: My talking about the answers I "expect" you to get, and what good ways are of explaining them.  Also hints
Assignment 50: Write up your exploration guide stuff more carefully, and submit it. July 20

Early fraction work:
Watch: Fraction naming and  (first experiences in) adding in Montessori
Read: From Students' Problem Solving Strategies to Connections in Fractions (D2L->Content->Readings)
Approaches to teaching and learning fractions
Assignment 51:
Making up problems, and showing solutions for early fraction work July 20


Equivalent fractions:
Watch:
Fraction Circles and Paper Folding
Array and non-array representations
Read:
The Array Strategy
Child-Invented Strategies: Equal Sharing and the Roots of Fraction Equivalence (D2L->Content->Readings)
Watch: Simplification strategies revisited
Assignment 52: Explaining equivalent fractions  July 22

Prime numbers: what they are; how to find prime factorizations
Exploration:
Watch: What to do with the web page
Do: See how well you can do with each of the applets on this page
Assignment 53: July 22   Prime numbers and factorizations

Prime factorizations and equivalent fractions

Watch: prime factorizations
prime factorizations and equivalent fractions
more about equivalent fractions
more about prime factorizations and equivalent fractions
Read: Divisibility rules (useful but optional) Bassarear section 4.1
Prime and composite numbers: Bassarear section 4.2
Assignment 54: July 22  prime factorizations and equivalent fractions

Factors and multiples: what is a factor, what is a multiple? How to find LCM and GCF two ways.
Watch: LCM, GCF
Read: Bassarear section 4.3
Assignment 55: Bassarear pg 252 # 6 a, b, c.  Do each problem two ways: by writing lists, and by using a prime factorization.  pg 252 # 5, 7, 8, 9  (3rd Edition, pg 250) July 22