Lesson Plan: Comparing Fractions

Lesson Objectives:

  • Students will be able to compare fractions with the same numerator or denominator by reasoning about their size.
  • Students will be able to compare fractions with different numerators and denominators by creating common denominators or numerators, or by comparing to a benchmark fraction such as 1/2.

Common Core Standards

  • 3.NF.A.3.D - Compare two fractions with the same numerator or the same denominator by reasoning about their size.
  • 4.NF.A.2 - Compare two fractions with different numerators and different denominators, e.g., by creating common denominators or numerators, or by comparing to a benchmark fraction such as 1/2.

Prerequisite Skills

  • Understanding fractions
  • Familiarity with equivalence
  • Modeling fractions visually

Key Vocabulary

  • Comparing Fractions
  • Ordering Fractions
  • Benchmark Fraction

Warm-up Activity (5 minutes)

Review the following terms using these video definitions:

Teach (15 minutes)

Equivalent and Unit Fractions

Briefly review the concept of equivalent fractions and how to create equivalent fractions by multiplying or dividing the numerator and denominator by the same number.

Use this slideshow to review equivalent fractions.

 https://www.media4math.com/library/slideshow/equivalent-fractions

Start by comparing unit fractions. Use this resource:

https://www.media4math.com/library/43519/asset-preview

Methods for Comparing 

Introduce three methods for comparing fractions:

  1. Visual Models: Show these examples of using number lines to compare fractions. Use this slideshow.
     https://www.media4math.com/library/slideshow/comparing-fractions-number-line-math-examples
  2. Benchmark Fractions: Compare fractions to benchmark fractions like 1/2 or 1/4 to determine which is greater or less. Use this resource:
    https://www.media4math.com/library/43534/asset-preview
  3. Common Denominators: Find a common denominator for the fractions and compare their numerators.
    1. Start by defining common denominators by using this video definition: https://www.media4math.com/library/74761/asset-preview
    2.  Generate equivalent fractions to find the common denominator. Use this resource to review this technique: https://www.media4math.com/library/slideshow/examples-generating-equivalent-fractions

Use this resource to show different strategies for comparing fractions:

https://www.media4math.com/library/64363/asset-preview

Review (5 minutes)

Introduce this game to review comparing fractions:

https://www.media4math.com/library/43544/asset-preview

Use this Quizlet Flash Card set to review comparing and ordering fractions:

https://www.media4math.com/library/26746/asset-preview

Assess (5 minutes)

Use this 10-question quiz.

Quiz

  1. Which fraction is greater, 1/3 or 1/4?
  2. Compare 5/8 and 3/4 using a visual model.
  3. Use a benchmark fraction to determine which is greater, 7/10 or 3/5.
  4. Find a common denominator to compare 2/3 and 5/6.
  5. Which fraction is less, 1/2 or 3/4?
  6. Compare 7/9 and 5/9 by reasoning about their size.
  7. Use a visual model to compare 1/6 and 1/3.
  8. Find a common denominator to compare 3/8 and 5/12.
  9. Which fraction is greater, 2/5 or 1/3?
  10. Compare 7/13 and 6/17 using a benchmark fraction.

Answers

  1. 1/3
  2. 5/8 is less than 3/4
  3. 7/10 is greater than 3/5
  4. 8/12 and 10/12, so 5/6 is greater than 2/3
  5. 3/4
  6. 5/9 is less than 7/9
  7. 1/3 is greater than 1/6
  8. 9/24 and 10/24, so 5/12 is greater than 3/8
  9. 2/5
  10. 7/13 is greater than 6/17

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