Comparing Fractions Using 1/2

Play Fraction Order. Introduce the Fraction Order game in the Student Activity Book. Split the class into two teams and ask each team to choose a spokesperson. Display two copies of the Fraction Order Game Board so each team has a game board. See Figure 4. Review the directions of the game and play one round as a class. Then have students play the game with partners or in small groups.

A Closer Look at Fraction Order. When students have played Fraction Order a few times, turn their attention to Questions 10 and 11 on the Comparing Fractions Using 1/2 pages in the Student Guide. See Sample Dialog Box 2 for examples of student thinking when solving Question 10.

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Below are examples of student reasoning while comparing 5/10 to 5/12. The fractions are shown here with fraction circle pieces.

Ming

5/12 is smaller than 5/10 because I made these two with my fraction circle pieces and the 5/12 does not cover the 5/10.

Shannon

5/12 is smaller than 5/10, because I made 5/12 and compared it to 1/2. I found that 5/12 is smaller than 1/2. 5/10 is equal to 1/2, so 5/12 is smaller than 5/10.

Roberto

5/12 is smaller than 5/10. I know that 5/12 is smaller than 6/12 and 6/12 is equal to 1/2. So 5/12 is less than 1/2.

Sort Fractions. Assign Questions 12–21. Tell students to use the Fraction Sort page from the Student Activity Book to record their answers to Questions 14–18.

In Questions 19–21, students compare fractions that cannot be easily represented with circle pieces. Students examine the relationship between the numerator and denominator to compare to 1/2.

Have students complete Check-In: Questions 22–26 independently.

Assign Questions 4–5 of the Homework section after Part 2 of this lesson.