Workshop: Many Ways to Show a Fraction

Demonstrate Fraction Fill Game. Introduce the Fraction Fill 1 game by playing a demonstration game. Directions, Game Boards, and Spinners are on the Fraction Fill 1 pages in the Student Activity Book. The Fraction Fill 1 Spinner is shown in Figure 2. For the demonstration game, organize the class into two teams and give each team two sets of fraction circle pieces and a game board. You may want to choose a spokesperson from each team to clarify communication. Remind students that the unit whole is the red circle before you begin reviewing the game directions and demonstrating the game.

After a few turns of the demonstration game, when students are familiar with the basic action, discuss the example that follows the directions of the game. In this example, a player has spun 5/8 and has choices to make about how to play the turn. There are several combinations of pieces that can be played that will equal 5/8.

Two of the possibilities are shown on the game boards pictured in the example on the pages: playing 1 pink and 1 blue and playing 5 blues. Both choices are acceptable, but one choice will result in a point for the player and the other will not.

Make it clear to students that they do not have to use pieces that exactly represent the denominators of the fraction they have spun. Rather, they can split the fraction into the sums of smaller fractions as in the example. They can also split their pieces between circles. In fact, sometimes players are forced to split their fraction because it is too big for the empty spaces on any one circle.

Encourage students to look for ways to play their pieces to maximize their possible points.

Have students play a few rounds of the game in teams of two.

Explore Strategies for Fraction Fill. Then use the sample boards in Figures 3–5 to discuss creative choices that earn more points. First represent Figure 3 with pieces on a display. Ask:

• How would you add 7/8 to the pieces on the board?

Students could complete the eighths circle and earn 1 point or they could complete two circles and earn 2 points by breaking 7/8 apart into 1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 and placing a piece on each circle.

Ask students to find similar alternatives for placing 3/4 on the board in Figure 4 and placing 1/2 on the board in Figure 5.

Have students play another round or two of Fraction Fill 1. The game rules for Fraction Fill 2 are similar except they involve thirds, sixths, and twelfths. Students will play one of the games at the end of the Workshop portion of the lesson.