Math lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 minutes
Word problems: a fraction times a whole number
Fractions
CCSS 4.NF.B.4.CEngland: Y5 Fractions
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Word problems: a fraction times 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: Multiply a fraction by a whole number
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 · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Multiply a fraction by a whole number). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- 2 × 2/4 = ? (Give a fraction; it may be improper.) → 4/4Prompt: 2 lots of 2/4 is the same as adding it 2 times.
- Each smoothie uses 1/8 cup of yogurt. Maya makes 5 smoothies. How many cups of yogurt is that? (Simplest form; a whole or mixed number is fine as a fraction.) → 5/8Prompt: Multiply the amount for one smoothie by the number of smoothies.
- 5 × 3/8 = ? (Give a fraction; it may be improper.) → 15/8 (1 7/8)Prompt: 5 lots of 3/8 is the same as adding it 5 times.
Hook · 5 min
- Cut a pizza or a strip of paper unevenly and ask whether the pieces are really halves or quarters.
- Share the objective: Word problems: a fraction times a whole number. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Amara drinks 1/2 of a litre of milk every day. How much milk is that in 3 days? (Write a mixed number or whole number.)
- Step 1: 3 × 1/2 = 3/2
- Step 2: 1 1/2
- Answer: 3/2 (1 1/2)
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Sofia drinks 1/2 of a litre of milk every day. How much milk is that in 4 days? (Write a mixed number or whole number.) → 2Prompt: Work out 4 × 1/2.
- Which calculation finds 6 groups of 3/6? (6 × 3/6 / 6 + 3/6 / 6/6 × 3/6 / 3/36) → 6 × 3/6Prompt: 'Groups of' means multiply.
You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Ava drinks 7/8 of a litre of milk every day. How much milk is that in 3 days? (Write a mixed number or whole number.) → 21/8 (2 5/8)Prompt: Work out 3 × 7/8.
- Which calculation finds 2 groups of 1/3? (1/6 / 2/3 × 1/3 / 2 + 1/3 / 2 × 1/3) → 2 × 1/3Prompt: 'Groups of' means multiply.
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: Multiply a fraction by a whole number.
- 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