Math lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes
Break a fraction into a sum of fractions
Fractions
CCSS 4.NF.B.3.BEngland: Y4 Fractions
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Break a fraction into a sum of fractions.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Add and subtract fractions with like denominators
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Fraction strips or a fraction wall, Paper strips to fold, Number lines, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Add and subtract fractions with like denominators). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 4/7 − 1/7 = ? → 3/7Prompt: Same denominators: subtract the numerators.
- Aisha walked 3/8 of a mile to the park and then 3/8 of a mile to the library. How far did Aisha walk in total? (Simplest form.) → 3/4Prompt: Add the two distances.
- 12/12 − 6/12 = ? → 6/12Prompt: Same denominators: subtract the numerators.
Hook · 3 min
- Cut a pizza or a strip of paper unevenly and ask whether the pieces are really halves or quarters.
- Share the objective: Break a fraction into a sum of fractions. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: 2/6 can be written as a sum of how many unit fractions 1/6?
- Step 1: 2/6 = 1/6 + 1/6
- Step 2: 2
- Answer: 2
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- 4/5 can be written as a sum of how many unit fractions 1/5? → 4Prompt: A unit fraction has numerator 1.
- 2 2/3 = 2 + ?/3 → 2Prompt: A mixed number is a whole number plus a fraction.
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- 1 4/6 = 1 + ?/6 → 4Prompt: A mixed number is a whole number plus a fraction.
- 5/6 can be written as a sum of how many unit fractions 1/6? → 5Prompt: A unit fraction has numerator 1.
Watch out for
- Thinking a bigger denominator means a bigger fraction (1/8 > 1/4).
- Adding the denominators when adding fractions (1/2 + 1/3 = 2/5).
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Add and subtract fractions with like denominators.
- Use concrete materials: fraction strips or a fraction wall.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-4.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder