Math lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes
Subtract a fraction from a whole number
Fractions
CCSS 4.NF.B.3.CEngland: Y5 Fractions
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Subtract a fraction from a whole number.
- 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: Whole numbers written as fractions; Add and subtract fractions with like denominators
Leads to: Subtract mixed numbers by regrouping a whole
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 (Whole numbers written as fractions; Add and subtract fractions with like denominators). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Write 3 as a fraction with denominator 2. What is the numerator? → 6Prompt: Each whole is 2/2.
- Write 3 as a fraction with denominator 3. What is the numerator? → 9Prompt: Each whole is 3/3.
- Write 8 as a fraction with denominator 2. What is the numerator? → 16Prompt: Each whole is 2/2.
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: Subtract a fraction from a whole number. 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: 3 − 2/5 = ? (Give a mixed number.)
- Step 1: 3 = 2 5/5
- Step 2: 2 3/5
- Answer: 13/5 (2 3/5)
- 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.
- 3 − 2/4 = ? (Give a mixed number.) → 5/2 (2 1/2)Prompt: Take 1 whole from 3 and change it into 4/4.
- Amara has 4 litres of juice and pours out 4/8 of a litre. How much juice is left? → 7/2 (3 1/2)Prompt: Write 4 as 3 and 8/8.
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.
- 2 − 2/4 = ? (Give a mixed number.) → 3/2 (1 1/2)Prompt: Take 1 whole from 2 and change it into 4/4.
- Noah has 2 litres of juice and pours out 6/10 of a litre. How much juice is left? → 7/5 (1 2/5)Prompt: Write 2 as 1 and 10/10.
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: Whole numbers written as fractions.
- 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
- Move on to: Subtract mixed numbers by regrouping a whole.
- 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