More Fraction Strips

Ask students to cut out the fraction strips on the Making More Fraction Strips page in the Student Activity Book. Students can store them in the envelope with the strips from Lesson 1. To make an orange thirds strip, ask students to take their first strip and to think about how they can fold it into three equal parts. Students may suggest first folding the strip into a loose “S” and then carefully matching edges before creasing the folds. Students may also suggest folding the paper like a letter. Both techniques are shown in Figure 2.

Folding strips into thirds is more difficult than the folding in the last lesson, so monitor each student's progress carefully. This process may require some trial and error. Students should use a ruler to draw lines to show each fold, label each piece 1/3, and color their strips orange. See Figure 3. Remind students to color in a way that leaves the fractions showing.

Students can fold a strip into sixths by first folding it into thirds and then folding the folded strip in half. Students can also start by folding their strips in half and then folding the halves into thirds. Students use a ruler to draw lines to show their folds, label these strips with 1/6, and color them aqua.

To fold a strip into ninths, students can first fold a strip into thirds and then fold it into thirds again. Remind students to use a ruler to draw lines to show their folds and label each part with 1/9. Leave the strip white.

A strip can be folded into twelfths by first folding it into thirds, then folding the folded strip in half, and finally folding it in half again; or the strip can first be folded in half, then thirds, and finally in half again. Students should mark their folds with a line and label each part with 1/12 . Students color the strip black; caution them to leave the fractions showing.

As students fold, label, and color their strips, ask individuals questions as appropriate to check for and promote understanding.