“Our light bulb moment happened when we were working with fraction pieces and students were looking at improper and mixed fractions.....”
Students do not always see or understand the connections between fractions and multiplication/division. They may see fractions as parts of something, times tables as a separate item of knowledge and division as something different again.
Fraction pieces make visible the nature of the fractions themselves and, with discussion, make evident the associated multiplication and division operations.
Domain: Proportions and ratios
Transition: 5 → 6
Barrier: Understanding improper fractions.
Other resources:
Numeracy activities:
Figure It Out:
- Hot Stuff (N2.2, p21)