Math lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes
Mixed numbers and improper fractions
Fractions
CCSS 4.NF.B.3.BCCSS 4.NF.B.3.CEngland: Y5 Fractions
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Mixed numbers and improper 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: Add and subtract mixed numbers; Write remainders as fractions or decimals; Add like fractions with a total greater than one
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.
- 3/8 − 2/8 = ? → 1/8Prompt: Same denominators: subtract the numerators.
- Ines walked 2/4 of a mile to the park and then 1/4 of a mile to the library. How far did Ines walk in total? (Simplest form.) → 3/4Prompt: Add the two distances.
- 4/7 − 2/7 = ? → 2/7Prompt: 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: Mixed numbers and improper 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: Write 1 1/2 as an improper fraction.
- Step 1: 1 × 2 = 2
- Step 2: 2 + 1 = 3
- Step 3: 1 1/2 = 3/2
- Answer: 3/2 (1 1/2)
- 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.
- Write 3 7/8 as an improper fraction. → 31/8 (3 7/8)Prompt: How many pieces of size 1/8 are in 3 wholes?
- Write 5/2 as a mixed number. (3 1/2 / 1 2/2 / 1 1/2 / 2 1/2) → 2 1/2Prompt: How many whole groups of 2 fit into 5?
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.
- Write 18/8 as a mixed number. (3 2/8 / 2 6/8 / 2 2/8 / 1 2/8) → 2 2/8Prompt: How many whole groups of 8 fit into 18?
- Write 5 2/4 as an improper fraction. → 22/4 (5 2/4)Prompt: How many pieces of size 1/4 are in 5 wholes?
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
- Move on to: Add and subtract mixed numbers; Write remainders as fractions or decimals; Add like fractions with a total greater than one.
- 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