Types of Fractions
🎯 Objective
Students will differentiate between proper, improper, and mixed numbers and convert between improper fractions and mixed numbers.
📚 Materials
- Whiteboard and markers
- Fraction manipulatives (e.g., fraction bars or tiles)
- Worksheets with conversion exercises (e.g., 7/2 to mixed number)
- (Optional: Use our Visual Fraction Models tool to demonstrate improper fractions and mixed numbers.)
📝 Instructions
- Recap fractions as parts of a whole.
- Define: Proper fractions (numerator < denominator, e.g., 2/3), Improper fractions (numerator ≥ denominator, e.g., 5/4), Mixed numbers (whole number + fraction, e.g., 1 1/4).
- Show how to convert: Improper to mixed (7/2 = 3 1/2 - divide 7 by 2), Mixed to improper (2 1/3 = 7/3 - multiply 2 by 3, add 1).
- Use manipulatives to visualize (e.g., stack bars for 5/4).
- Students practice conversions on the whiteboard (e.g., 9/4, 1 2/3).
- Distribute worksheets for solo practice.
🎉 Activities
Fraction Sorting
Give students cards (e.g., 3/4, 5/2, 1 1/2) to sort into proper, improper, and mixed categories.
Fraction Conversion Race
Teams race to convert a list of fractions (e.g., 11/3 to 3 2/3).
✅ Assessment
- Check accuracy during the race.
- Review worksheets to ensure correct conversions.