Comparing Fractions Using 1/2

Divide students into small groups of 3 or 4 students. Give each student an index card to create a fraction card as in Figure 2. Give each group a large sheet of paper to draw a Benchmark Number Line as in Figure 1 or 3. Assign each student in the group a different fraction (see Materials Preparation). After each student has created a fraction card for his or her assigned fraction, they put the fractions in order from smallest to largest on the group number line. While students are organizing the fraction cards, listen to the strategies students are using to compare the fractions. Ask a few groups to share their fraction cards and their strategies for ordering the fractions on the class number line.