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Adding Fractions

Overview

 

Curator: Jessica Thimm

 

Name & Link to Tech Tool: http://hotmath.com/learning_activities/interactivities/fractech.swf

 

Brief Description of Tech Tool:This is a website that allows students to add fractions together and place them on a number line. Students can see the difference in the fractions as well as come up with the least common denominator by changing the partition of the number line. Students can work on comparing, adding, and simplifying fractions.

 

Technical & Cost considerations:This is a website that is free to use. It works well on any computer as well as the SmartBoard.

 

Evaluation

 

Description of Learning Activity: Students can use this website to work on adding fractions. I have used this in small groups with my students who continued to have trouble understanding fractions after the lesson has been taught. I placed the website on the SmartBoard, had the students add fractions and change the partition, and then we discussed what patterns we noticed.

 

1. Learning Activity Types

  • LA-Present - (read or attend to) presentation of new content/idea of adding fractions together and why you need a least common denominator

  • LA-Explore - exploring/investigating the idea of adding fraction and what is a least common denominator

 

2. What mathematics is being learned?

  • Common Core State Standards

    • CCSS.Math.Content.5.NF.A.1 Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators (including mixed numbers) by replacing given fractions with equivalent fractions in such a way as to produce an equivalent sum or difference of fractions with like denominators. For example, 2/3 + 5/4 = 8/12 + 15/12 = 23/12. (In general, a/b + c/d = (ad + bc)/bd.)

  • NCTM Standards:

    • NCTM-N&0-understand numbers - understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems

    • NCTM-N&0-compute fluently - compute fluently and make reasonable estimates

  • Proficiency Strands: 

    • PS-conceptual understanding - students work on understanding the concept of adding fractions with a least common denominator

 

3. How is the mathematics represented?  

In this tech tool, mathematics is represented both graphically and numerically. Graphically the students can see the fraction on a number line and numerically the students can write a fraction. Students can click and drag fractions onto a number line. They can also change the partition of the fraction to split the number line up and discover the common denominator. Students can make any fraction they want and can add many different fractions together.

 

4. What role does technology play?

This website provides advantages for the students to become more engaged in understanding about adding fractions with unlike and like denominators. The students have the ability to pick their own fractions, place the fraction on the number line, and visually see what each fraction looks like in comparison with one another. Another advantage is that different fractions can be used to differenciate instruction throughout the class as well as being able to add more than two fractions together. The website will also partition the number line up into equal parts which you can use. A disadvantage is that once students understand how to find the least common denominator then the website just becomes something to play on.

  • Affordances of Technology for Supporting Learners

    • Representing Ideas & Thinking- The number line helps students to represent the idea of adding fractions. It can also help students represent the least common denominator by working with the partition of the fraction.

    • Accessing Information- Students have the opportunity to come up with an understanding of the least common denominator by working with this tech tool.

 

5. How does the technology fit or interact with the social context of learning?

This tech tool could be used in individual and groups. To introduce the idea of adding fractions and finding the least common denominator, this tool could be used to introduce the concept to the whole class and work through some problems together. Students could then break up into pairs or even work individually to solve adding fractions problems. The students could be given a set of problems to complete and have to use this tech tool to do so.6. What do teachers and learners need to know?This website is very easy to work with. If a teacher or student is having problems, there is a demostration into how to add the fractions together. I like the idea that the students get to work on least common denominator without actually knowing what it is yet. I think it is important that students discover mathematical concepts and are not given the definition or understanding without getting to come up with an idea on their own. This website allows the teacher to introduce the concepts of adding fractions and least common denominator as well as letting the students work on their own.

 

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