1. Fractions What are they? How do they work? What are they good for? 1Copyright © 2010 Lynda Greene Aguirre

2. Equal parts of a whole A fraction is a way to describe the number of pieces as well as the size of the pieces of any whole object. For instance, Why are some hamburgers called quarter-pounders? The name is using a fraction to describe the size (amount) of meat in the burger. one quarter = 1/4 Copyright © 2010 Lynda Greene Aguirre2

3. Top number vs. bottom number So what do these numbers ¼ mean? Why is one on the top of the line and the other on the bottom? Copyright © 2010 Lynda Greene Aguirre3

4. Top Number (Numerator) The top number is how many pieces of the whole you are counting Copyright © 2010 Lynda Greene Aguirre4 ¼ means I’m counting one piece out of a total of 4 total pieces One quarter of this circle is blue

5. Bottom Number (Denominator) The bottom number is the size of each piece as well as the total number of pieces it takes to make a whole object. Copyright © 2010 Lynda Greene Aguirre5 ¾ means I’m counting 3 out of the 4 pieces it takes to form the whole object

6. Any shape will work 1/4 Copyright © 2010 Lynda Greene Aguirre6 1/3 1/4 As long as the object is broken into EQUAL SIZED PIECES

7. Candy Bar Thinking of fractions as a visual object is easiest when a simple object is used. For this reason, I like to use rectangles (i.e. the candy bar). Copyright © 2010 Lynda Greene Aguirre7 A whole candy bar can be easily split into pieces of any size to illustrate any fraction you need

8. Split the Candy bar into EQUAL SIZED PIECES Copyright © 2010 Lynda Greene Aguirre8 Halves Thirds Fourths 1/2 1/3 1/4

9. Copyright © 2010 Lynda Greene Aguirre9 2 pieces are highlighted It takes 3 equal sized pieces to form the whole candy bar This is two out of three, or 2/3 Notice that it can be any of the pieces, not just the ones on the left-hand side. Try it: Draw 2/3 in other ways. How many many possible ways are there? Try it: Draw 2/3 in other ways. How many many possible ways are there? Look at the candy bar below

10. Copyright © 2010 Lynda Greene Aguirre10 Try it: Draw this fraction in other ways How many possible ways are there? Try it: Draw this fraction in other ways How many possible ways are there? How many pieces are highlighted ? How many equal sized pieces does it take to form the whole candy bar? This is out of, or / Look at the candy bar below Key: 1/4

11. Practice Create a candy bar for each of the following fractions: 2/43/54/63/4 5/8 3/7 2/5 3/3 0/23/61/52/6 Copyright © 2010 Lynda Greene Aguirre11

12. IXL WEBSITE- extra practice with fractions Halves, Thirds, and Fourths http://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade- 2-halves-thirds-and-fourthshttp://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade- 2-halves-thirds-and-fourths Identify the Fraction http://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade-2- identify-the-fractionhttp://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade-2- identify-the-fraction Which Shape Illustrates the Fraction? http://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade-2-which-shape-illustrates- the-fraction http://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade-2-which-shape-illustrates- the-fraction Parts of a Group http://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade-2-fractions- parts-of-a-grouphttp://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade-2-fractions- parts-of-a-group Word Problems http://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade-2-fractions- word-problemshttp://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade-2-fractions- word-problems Compare Fractions http://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade-2- compare-fractionshttp://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade-2- compare-fractions Order Fractions http://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade-2-order- fractionshttp://www.ixl.com/math/practice/grade-2-order- fractions Copyright © 2010 Lynda Greene Aguirre12