• 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.

1. 3 × 2/5 = ? (Give a fraction; it may be improper.) → 6/5 (1 1/5)Prompt: 3 lots of 2/5 is the same as adding it 3 times.
2. Each smoothie uses 2/8 cup of yogurt. Hiro makes 8 smoothies. How many cups of yogurt is that? (Simplest form; a whole or mixed number is fine as a fraction.) → 2Prompt: Multiply the amount for one smoothie by the number of smoothies.
3. 3 × 2/3 = ? (Give a fraction; it may be improper.) → 6/3 (2)Prompt: 3 lots of 2/3 is the same as adding it 3 times.

• 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.

• 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.

• Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
• Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

1. Hana drinks 1/2 of a litre of milk every day. How much milk is that in 8 days? (Write a mixed number or whole number.) → 4Prompt: Work out 8 × 1/2.
2. Which calculation finds 6 groups of 1/4? (6 + 1/4 / 1/24 / 6/4 × 1/4 / 6 × 1/4) → 6 × 1/4Prompt: 'Groups of' means multiply.

• 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.

• Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

1. Grace says 3 × 1/10 = 3/30. Spot the mistake. What is the right answer? → 3/10Prompt: 3 × 1/10 means 1/10 added 3 times.
2. Which calculation finds 4 groups of 1/6? (4/6 × 1/6 / 4 × 1/6 / 4 + 1/6 / 1/24) → 4 × 1/6Prompt: 'Groups of' means multiply.

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-4.