Working with Fractions

By Craig Ellison

 

Georgia Standards:

M7N1. Students will understand the meaning of positive and negative rational

numbers and use them in computation.

a. Find the absolute value of a number and understand it as the distance from

zero on a number line.

b. Compare and order rational numbers, including repeating decimals.

c. Add, subtract, multiply, and divide positive and negative rational numbers.

d. Solve problems using rational numbers.

 

M7P1. Students will solve problems (using appropriate technology).

a. Build new mathematical knowledge through problem solving.

b. Solve problems that arise in mathematics and in other contexts.

c. Apply and adapt a variety of appropriate strategies to solve problems.

d. Monitor and reflect on the process of mathematical problem solving.

M7P3. Students will communicate mathematically.

a. Organize and consolidate their mathematical thinking through communication.

b. Communicate their mathematical thinking coherently and clearly to peers,

teachers, and others.

c. Analyze and evaluate the mathematical thinking and strategies of others.

d. Use the language of mathematics to express mathematical ideas precisely.

M7P4. Students will make connections among mathematical ideas and to other

disciplines.

a. Recognize and use connections among mathematical ideas.

b. Understand how mathematical ideas interconnect and build on one another to

produce a coherent whole.

c. Recognize and apply mathematics in contexts outside of mathematics.

 

 

ISTE Standards

IV. Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.

V. Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.

 

Description:

This scavenger hunt is designed to help students with the basic skills needed to work with fractions.  Each question has a hyperlink which will take the user to a website with helpful information.  The websites will not always give you the direct answer but will give you some tips and hints on how to solve the problem. 

Thanks to Jennifer Hiem for sharing her fractions questions and Math Road Trip..

 

Directions:

1. View this PowerPoint on comparing fractions. This is another PowerPoint on fractions. Both are really good and they could be showed on the big screen or have students view them at their computer.

2. Read the questions below and answer them on a blank sheet of paper.

3. Turn in your answer sheet to the teacher.

4. After completing the answer sheet, visit this site to practice using line or circle charts to visually add fractions.

5. Now you can play a game of  Math Road Trip. 

6. Complete the writing assignment at the bottom of the page.

 

Questions:

  1. List 5 equivalent fractions of.
  2. Reduce the following fractions to simplest form:
    1.     b.      c. 
  3. Compare each pair of fractions (<, >, =).
    1.                b.       
  4. What are the two methods you can use to find the Least Common Denominator?
  5. What is the first thing you must do before you add fractions with unlike denominators?
  6. In your own words, explain what mixed numbers and improper fractions are.
  7. Change  to a mixed number.
  8. Add the following fractions.
    1.  +        b.   +
  9. Two students are headed to Farnsley Middle School.  The first student, Jean, is  of a mile away.  The second student, William, is  of a mile away.  Which student is closer to the school?
  10.   Destiny is going to visit her friend Alex.  She decides to bring along another friend named Dominique.  Destiny rides her bike  of a mile to Dominique’s house.  Dominique and Destiny then ride their bikes  of a mile to Alex’s house.  How far did Destiny travel to get to Alex’s house?

 

 

Writing Assignment:

Pretend you are going on a trip  to another state. Write a paragraph or two about the various things you see that use fractions. Make sure you tell me which state. Brainstorm and develop several real world example of fractions and use them in your paragraph. The math road trip game has some examples in it dealing with gas. Ideas: Gas, Mileage, Food, Road Signs, Map reading, and Trip Time.