Fractional Thinking Fiona Fox and Lisa Heap Numeracy Facilitators

Pirate Problem There is a prize for whoever gets the answer first! Three pirates have some treasure to share. They decide to sleep and share it equally in the morning. One pirate got up at at 1.00am and took 1/3 of the treasure. The second pirate woke at 3.00am and took 1/3 of the treasure. The last pirate got up at 7.00am and took the rest of the treasure. Do they each get an equal share of the treasure? If not, how much do they each get?

The Rope Activity:

Objectives: Identify the progressive strategy stages of fractions, proportions and ratios. Further develop teacher’s confidence and content knowledge of fractions. Explore key ideas, equipment and activities used to teach fraction knowledge and strategy.

Organisation Organising routines, resources etc. Focus on Content Familiarisation with books, teaching model etc. Focus on the Student Move away from what you are doing to noticing what the student is doing Reacting to the Student Interpret and respond to what the student is doing The 4 Stages of the P.D Journey:

Developing Proportional Thinking: A chance to recap what fraction strategy needs to be taught at different stages. Put the scenarios in order. Use the number framework to help you. Highlight all the fractional knowledge across the stages (pg18-22).

Fraction Knowledge Test: Draw 2 pictures: (a) one half (b) one eighth Mark 5 halves on a number line from is three fifths of what number? What is 3 ÷ 5? Draw a picture of 7 thirds Write one half as a ratio. The ratio of kidney beans to green is 3:4. What fraction of the beans are green? Order these fractions: 2/4, 3/4, 2/5, 7/16, 2/3, 6/49 Now include these % and decimals into your order 30%, 75%, 0.38, 0.5

Views of Fractions: What does this fraction mean? 3 ÷ 7 3 over 7 3 : 7 3 out of 7 3 sevenths

Use words first before using the symbols: e.g. one half not 1 out or 2 How do you explain the top and bottom numbers? 1 2 The number of parts chosen The number of parts the whole has been divided into The Problem with Language:

Models of Fractions: With the equipment available or on a piece of paper, make a model to show three quarters. In your thinking groups talk about the similarities and differences between your models.

10 Continuous Model: Models where the object can be divided in any way that is chosen. e.g. ¾ of this line and this square are blue.

Discrete Model: Discrete: Made up of individual objects. e.g. ¾ of this set is blue

Whole to Part: Most fraction problems are about giving students the whole and asking them to find parts. Show me ¼ of this circle?

Part to Whole: We also need to give them part to whole problems, like: ¼ of a number is 5. What is the number?

Teaching Fractions: What do you see as some of the confusions associated with the teaching and understanding of fractions?

Misconceptions with Fractions: A group of students are investigating the books they have in their homes. Steve notices that of the books in his house are fiction books, while Andrew finds that of the books his family owns are fiction. Steve states that his family has more fiction books than Andrew’s. Consider…. Is Steve necessarily correct? Why/Why not? What action, if any, do you take?

Key Idea: The size of the fraction depends on the size of the whole. Steve is not necessarily correct because the amount of books that each fraction represents is dependent on the number of books each family owns. For example: of 30 is less than of 100. Key is to always refer to the whole. This will be dependent on the problem!

Misconceptions with Fractions: Heather says is not possible as a fraction. Consider….. Is possible as a fraction? Why does Heather say this? What action, if any, do you take?

Key Idea: A fraction can represent more than one whole. Can be illustrated through the use of materials and diagrams. Question students to develop understanding: Show me 2 thirds, 3, thirds, 4 thirds… How many thirds in one whole? two wholes? How many wholes can we make with 7 thirds?

Misconceptions with Fractions: You observe the following equation in Bill’s work: Consider….. Is Bill correct? What is the possible reasoning behind his answer? What, if any, is the key understanding he needs to develop in order to solve this problem?

Key Idea: To divide the number A by the number B is to find out how many lots of B are in A. When dividing by some unit fractions the answer gets bigger! No he is not correct. The correct equation is Possible reasoning behind his answer: 1/2 of 2 1/2 is 1 1/4. –He is dividing by 2. –He is multiplying by 1/2. –He reasons that “division makes smaller” therefore the answer must be smaller than 2 1/2.

⅓ Misconceptions with Fractions When you multiply by some fractions the answer gets smaller 1/4 x 1/3 = 1/12 This is ⅓ of one whole strip. If it is cut into quarters, four equivalent pieces, what will each new piece be called?

Fractions Video: What was the key purpose of the lesson? What key mathematical language was being developed? How did materials/equipment support the children’s learning? What may have happened if the equipment was not present? Why did the teacher use the example 101/4 in the lesson? In terms of the teaching model, where do you think the children are at? What would be you next step with this group of children?

Exploring Book 7: Explore the Fraction Circles activity on page 20. Animals – page 18 Birthday Cakes – page 26 Focus on the following : What key knowledge is required before beginning this stage. Highlight the important key ideas at this stage. The learning intention of the activity. Work through the teaching model (materials, imaging, number properties). Possible follow up practice activities. The link to the planning units and Figure It Out support.

Exploring Book 7: Explore the How Can Two Decimals So Ugly Make One So Beautiful activity on page 45. Decimats – page 41 Mixing Colours – page 50 Focus on the following : What key knowledge is required before beginning this stage. Highlight the important key ideas at this stage. The learning intention of the activity. Work through the teaching model (materials, imaging, number properties). Possible follow up practice activities. The link to the planning units and Figure It Out support.

Ratios: In the rectangle below, what is the ratio of green to blue cubes? What is the fraction of blue and green cubes? Can you make another structure with the same ratio? What would it look like? What confusions may children have here?

More on Ratios…. Divide a rectangle up so that the ratio of its blue to green parts is 7:3. Think of other ways that you can do it. What is the fraction of each colour? If I had 60 cubes how many of them will be of each colour?

A Ratio Problem to Solve: There are 27 pieces of fruit. The ratio of fruit that I get to the fruit that you get is 2:7. How many pieces do I get? How many pieces would there have to be for me to get 8 pieces of fruit? What key mathematical knowledge is required here?

Summary of key ideas: Fraction language - emphasise the “ths” code Fraction symbols - use words and symbols with caution Continuous and discrete models - use both Go from Part-to-Whole as well as Whole-to-Part Fractions are numbers and operators Fractions are a context for add/sub and mult/div strategies Fractions are always relative to the whole.

Thought for the day: Smart people believe only half of what they hear. Smarter people know which half to believe.