Fraction Frenzy: Understanding Parts of a Whole

Mathematics Grades 4th Grade 3:48 Video
Print Lesson Plan Watch Video

Lesson Description

Learn how to identify and represent fractions as parts of a whole with equal sections. This lesson will help you understand how to name fractions when more than one section is shaded!

Video Resource

More than one equal section | Fractions | 3rd grade | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Duration: 3:48
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Fractions represent parts of a whole.
  • The denominator of a fraction represents the total number of equal parts.
  • The numerator of a fraction represents the number of selected or shaded parts.
  • When all parts of a whole are selected, the fraction is equal to one whole (e.g., 5/5 = 1).

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify the fraction represented by a shaded portion of a shape.
  • Students will be able to write the fraction that represents multiple equal sections of a whole.
  • Students will be able to understand that a fraction with the same numerator and denominator equals one whole.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by reviewing what a fraction is. Ask students what they already know about fractions. Show examples of fractions in everyday life (e.g., a pizza cut into slices).
  • Video Viewing (7 mins)
    Play the Khan Academy video 'More than one equal section | Fractions | 3rd grade | Khan Academy'. Instruct students to pay attention to how fractions are represented visually and how to name them.
  • Guided Practice (10 mins)
    After the video, draw different shapes on the board, dividing them into equal sections. Shade in some sections and ask students to identify the fraction represented. Start with simple fractions (halves, thirds, fourths) and gradually increase the complexity (fifths, sixths, ninths).
  • Independent Practice (10 mins)
    Provide students with a worksheet containing various shapes divided into equal sections. Have them shade in a specified number of sections and write the corresponding fraction. Also, include examples where students have to determine what fraction of each of these wholes is shaded in.
  • Wrap-up and Discussion (3 mins)
    Review the key concepts of the lesson. Ask students if they have any questions. Emphasize that fractions are parts of a whole and that understanding fractions is important for many areas of math.

Interactive Exercises

  • Fraction Matching Game
    Create cards with fractions and corresponding visual representations. Students match the fraction with the correct picture.
  • Online Fraction Manipulatives
    Use online fraction manipulatives (e.g., on the Math Playground website) to allow students to visually explore fractions and create their own representations.

Discussion Questions

  • What does the bottom number (denominator) of a fraction tell us?
  • What does the top number (numerator) of a fraction tell us?
  • When does a fraction equal one whole?
  • Can you think of real-world examples of fractions?

Skills Developed

  • Fraction identification
  • Visual representation of fractions
  • Understanding the relationship between parts and wholes
  • Problem-solving

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

A circle is divided into 4 equal parts. If 3 parts are shaded, what fraction represents the shaded parts?

Correct Answer: 3/4

Question 2:

A rectangle is divided into 6 equal sections. If all 6 sections are shaded, what fraction represents the shaded rectangle?

Correct Answer: 6/6

Question 3:

What does the denominator of a fraction tell us?

Correct Answer: The total number of equal parts

Question 4:

What does the numerator of a fraction tell us?

Correct Answer: The number of shaded parts

Question 5:

A square is divided into 9 equal parts. 5 parts are colored blue. What fraction of the square is blue?

Correct Answer: 5/9

Question 6:

If you have 8/8 of a pizza, how much of the pizza do you have?

Correct Answer: The whole pizza

Question 7:

A shape has 3 equal sections. 1 section is shaded. What fraction is shaded?

Correct Answer: 1/3

Question 8:

Which fraction shows the whole shape shaded?

Correct Answer: 4/4

Question 9:

A shape has 5 equal parts. 2 parts are shaded. Which fraction represents the shaded parts?

Correct Answer: 2/5

Question 10:

If a shape is divided into 7 equal parts and you shade 7 of those parts, what does that fraction represent?

Correct Answer: The whole shape

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

The top number of a fraction is called the ________.

Correct Answer: numerator

Question 2:

The bottom number of a fraction is called the ________.

Correct Answer: denominator

Question 3:

A fraction represents a ________ of a whole.

Correct Answer: part

Question 4:

If a shape is divided into 5 equal parts, each part represents 1/____ of the whole.

Correct Answer: 5

Question 5:

When the numerator and denominator are the same, the fraction equals _______ whole.

Correct Answer: one

Question 6:

A shape is cut into 8 equal pieces. Each piece is one-____ of the whole.

Correct Answer: eighth

Question 7:

If something is cut into two equal parts, each part is called a ____.

Correct Answer: half

Question 8:

3/4 means that a shape has four equal parts and ____ are shaded.

Correct Answer: three

Question 9:

The denominator shows how many ____ parts the whole has.

Correct Answer: equal

Question 10:

If you shade all the pieces of a shape, you have shaded the ____ thing.

Correct Answer: whole

Educational Standards

4.N.3.1:Represent and rename equivalent fractions using fraction models (e.g., parts of a set, area models, fraction strips, number lines). 4.N.3.3:Use models to order and compare whole numbers and fractions less than and greater than one, using comparative language and symbols. 4.N.3.4:Decompose a fraction into a sum of fractions with the same denominator in more than one way, using concrete and pictorial models and recording results with numerical representations (e.g., 3/4 = 1/4 + 1/4 + 1/4 and 3/4 = 2/4 + 1/4).

Teaching Materials

Download ready-to-use materials for this lesson:

Student Worksheet Classroom Slides Assessment Quiz
Add to Google Classroom

User Actions

Sign in to save this lesson plan to your favorites.

Sign In

Share This Lesson

Related Lesson Plans