Make Sure Your Students Can Do This!
Placing unit fractions on the number line sounds simple ~ if you ask a teacher.
What do your students think about it? Even if they say, ‘yeah, sure we can do that,’ can they really?
Find out with this interactive slideshow: Place Unit Fractions on the Number Line.
Unit fractions seem simple at first ~ just look for the one in the numerator. However, understanding why unit fractions with larger denominators are closer to zero than those with smaller denominators and being able to reliably place unit fractions on a number line require loads of thoughtful experience.
Place Unit Fractions on the Number Line can be used as a review for your class or for individual students, a learning station activity, or as a quick assessment of how well your students are able to assign places to unit fractions on the number line.
Slideshow Details
The slideshow starts out with a super simple task: click the shape to show where one over one belongs on the number line. This first slide reminds students that one over one is also a unit fraction; not all unit fractions are proper fractions. Since there is only one shape to click it is a guaranteed success!
All number lines in the slideshow have zero and one clearly marked. Each number line is divided into equal segments that correspond with the unit fraction in question.
The tasks get more difficult very slowly. Students must be familiar with placing fractions on number lines before they use this activity. Essential background information includes: working with segments of number lines, being able to count the equal spaces between zero and one in order to identify the denominator, and understanding how to count by halves, thirds, fourths, fifths, sixths, and tenths. Students should also be familiar with equivalent fractions.
Students who click on wrong answers will be directed to a slide with more information and hints specific to the question they are working on. There is a ‘try again’ button on each ‘wrong answer’ slide. The only way to progress through to the end is to click on the correct answers.
Correct answers are rewarded with encouragement and some additional information about locating unit fractions on number lines. There is a ‘keep going’ button on every correct answer slide. There are 23 slides in all. Students who are able to place unit fractions on the number line accurately will finish in less than 5 minutes.
Ideas for Supporting Learners When Needed
Some students may find the tasks difficult, others may not understand the text perfectly. When students need support, consider having them work in pairs or in small groups. When students struggle, you might want to do some reteaching and then have them zip through the slideshow again to build confidence.
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All six slideshows are introduced here.
Isabelle
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Isabelle Hoag M. Ed.
