Fractions

Today in grade 9 we had a look at some fraction fluency. We practiced counting by “one eighths” and we clapped when we got to a whole number. We also worked on representing fractions, and what the numerators (parts) and denominators (total number of pieces) mean. We coloured in 1/2 in multiple ways. We know that 2/4=1/2 and 4/8=1/2 and 8/16=1/2.

Next our challenge was a card sorting task as a class. In 3 small groups students sorted through cards with fractions or decimal values on them. Each group ordered their stack of cards. We had some interesting conversations about equivalent expressions, or improper fractions and mixed numbers, or what does 0.3 with the line mean compared to 0.3 without a line over the 3.

Each group chose someone to take the smallest value that they had over to one side of the whiteboard, and another volunteer to take their largest value to the other side of the whiteboard. They had a chat to decide on the smallest and largest values in the room. We then had the edges of our number line, and worked together as a class to put all of the values in order.

There was a lot of rearranging and sorting things out as all groups merged their lists.

Next we added some benchmark values and tried to get our spacing accurate.

Tomorrow we’ll put some percentages in the mix and see if we can manage the new challenge!