Lesson 4

Comparing Fractions

Est. Class Sessions: 1

Summarizing the Lesson

Ask and discuss:

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  • Explain why 1/2 is a good benchmark to use when comparing the sizes of different fractions. (Possible response: Because it is easy to visualize half of something.)

Next, ask students to describe the other strategies for comparing fractions that were introduced in this lesson. Here is a summative list of strategies with examples:

  • Lining up the fraction strips or using the Fraction Chart.
  • Comparing to 1/2. I know a fraction is equivalent to 1/2 if the denominator is double the numerator. 1/2 = 6/12 because 12 is double 6, just like 2 is double 1.
  • If the numerators are all the same, the smaller the denominator, the larger the fraction will be: 1/3 > 1/8.
  • If the denominators are all the same, the smaller the numerator, the smaller the fraction: 2/5 < 4/5.

Assign Check-In: Questions 17–19 in the Student Guide.

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Use Check-In: Questions 17–19 in the Student Guide to assess students' abilities to represent fraction comparisons with symbols [E7], find fractions equivalent to one-half using fraction strips [E8], and compare and order fractions using fraction strips and the one-half benchmark [E9].

Targeted practice for finding equivalent fractions is in the Homework section of the Student Guide in Lesson 8, and practice for comparing and finding equivalent fractions is in the Workshop in Lesson 11.

Have students store their handmade Fraction Charts to use in later lessons in this unit.

Student Guide:
Student Activity Book:
Master: