Fractions

Overview

Curator: Jessica Johnson

 

Link to Tech Tool: http://illuminations.nctm.org/Activity.aspx?id=3510

 

Brief Description of Tech Tool: This tech tool allows students to manipulate squares and circles to create equivalent fractions. Students can build their own equivalent fractions or make equivalent fractions to match a pre-made fraction. This tech tool also shows students the location of each fraction on a number line so they can check that the fractions are equivalent.

 

Technical & Cost considerations: This tech tool is free to use and does not require any registration. There are no technical constraints and can be run on both Apple and Window operating systems.

 

Evaluation

Description of Learning Activity: This tech tool allows students to explore the idea of equivalent fractions through both models and number lines.

 

1. Learning Activity Types: 

• LA-Present - (read or attend to) presentation of new content/ideas

  • LA-Present-Demo – demonstration, show students what it means for fractions to be equivalent.

• LA-Explore - exploring/investigating mathematical ideas. This tech tool allows students to explore and understand the concept of equivalence.

 

2. What mathematics is being learned?

• Common Core State Standards:

  • This tech tool meets the 3rd – 5th grade CCSS essential expectation that students need to be able to extend their understanding of fraction equivalence.

• NCTM Standards:

  • NCTM-N&0-understand numbers - understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems. This allow students to see through virtual models and number lines how two different fractions relate and can have equivalent values.

• Proficiency Strands:

  • PS-conceptual understanding: comprehension of mathematical concepts, operations, and relations. Students learn the concept of equivalent fractions.

  • PS-adaptive reasoning: capacity for logical thought, reflection, explanation, and justification. This tech tool allows students to be able to explain and justify what makes fractions equivalent.

 

3. How is the mathematics represented?

This tech tool is a visual manipulative, with both fraction models and a number line. You can select if you want the models to be squares or circles and then divide them however you wish. It also records your equivalent fractions in a table.

 

4. What role does technology play?

Technology allows you to manipulate the grids to make equivalent fractions. The fractions represented by each grid are automatically placed on a number line to see if they share the same value. This technology allows students to explore the concept of equivalent fractions.

• Affordances of Technology for Supporting Learning:

  • Representing Ideas & Thinking – Visual models allow students to be able to represent the idea of equivalence.

 

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

This tech tool could be used in a variety of ways; it could allow students to explore independently or in partnerships so they could have conversations about what makes fractions equivalent. This would allow them to find patterns and create theories about equivalent fractions. This tech tool could also be used on a Smart Board to explore the concept whole class, with a rich math discussion.

 

6. What do teachers and learners need to know?

This tech tool is very easy to use, so no advance technology skills are needed. Students need to understand what the term ‘equivalent’ means, other then that they do not need any prior knowledge about the concept. This tool works great for exploring and forming conclusions about equivalent fractions.