Fractions with Pattern Blocks

We did some work with fractions today in grade 8. I’ve been helping a small group of students build their skills this term. Today we worked with pattern blocks and concept circles. This first one had 1 yellow hexagon as 1, then I placed blocks in each segment and students needed to write the fraction. I made sure that we had some that were greater than 1, and some that could be simplified.

Next I put fractions in the segments and the students needed to build them. We branched out and did some adding as well. It was neat to see how quickly they were putting together the various fractions to make hexagons. We talked about how we can represent everything in triangles and get to the same answer using a common piece (common denominator).

We got partway through this last one, which was a bit tricky since we renamed 1 to be 1 red trapezoid.

Because we were used to building hexagons, it took a minute to get reoriented, and count trapezoids instead. It was a good challenge to change what “1” was. Using the manipulatives and combining them with fractions can help take away the fear of the fractions in their abstract state. Sometimes seeing fractions and knowing that they can be built, or drawn, or represented in another way can add meaning, but also help keep us calm when using them.