LESSON OVERVIEW

Title: Let's Make Fractions!

Author: Taylor Forest
Subject: Mathematics
Grade Level: 3rd grade
Duration: ~2 hours or two class periods
Unit Description:
The following lesson would be part of a larger mathematics unit based on
understanding fractions as numbers. Learning outcomes below are from the
Common Core Standards.
Lesson Goals:
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to identify different
fractions.
By the end of the lesson, students will be able to construct fractions on
their own using a variety of materials.
Common Core Standards:
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.1
Understand a fraction 1/b as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is
partitioned into b equal parts; understand a fraction a/b as the quantity
formed by a parts of size 1/b.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.3.B
Recognize and generate simple equivalent fractions, e.g., 1/2 = 2/4, 4/6 =
2/3. Explain why the fractions are equivalent, e.g., by using a visual fraction
model.
Big Ideas:
Fractions are used to represent parts of a whole number.

A fraction is greater than, less than, or equal to one whole.

Barriers:
Constructing fraction pizza
Understanding abstract concepts- a fraction is part of a whole number

METHOD
Anticipatory Set
a) Ask students, Have you ever had pizza?
b) Ask students, Have you ever had to share a pizza with someone
else?
c) Ask students, If you have ever had to share a pizza, did you know that
you would be sharing a fraction of your pizza?
Introduce and Model New Knowledge
1) Tell students that they will be learning about fractions.
2) Tell students, A fraction is part of a whole number.
3) Write a fraction on the board (i.e. )
4) Ask students, Do you know what this number, or fraction, is?
5) Ask students, Do you know what means?
6) Aiming for a response similar to: it is half of a whole, or you get if
you break something into two parts.
7) Ask students, Do you know what the top number is called?
8) Ask students, Do you know what the bottom number is called?
9) Give the students the definition of a numerator: the top number- how
many parts we have and a denominator: the bottom number- how
many parts the whole number is divided into and write these words on
the board clearly indicating which number is which.
10)
Show the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=DnFrOetuUKg
11)
Ask students, What is a fraction?
12)
Ask students, What is the top number in a fraction?
13)
Ask students, What is the bottom number in a fraction?
14)
Ask students, Can you tell me some fractions that we saw in
the video?
15)
Write the fractions on the board for the students to see.
Provide Guided Practice
1) Pose this story problem to the class: Suppose you and your family want
to order a pizza. You have four people in your family (explain to
students that we are only pretending there are 4 people in the family,
it is is okay if their family does not have 4 members or has more than 4
members.) You want cheese pizza, your mom wants pepperoni, your
dad wants mushroom pizza and your brother/sister wants ham pizza.
You are only going to order one pizza.
2) On the board, draw a large circle.
3) Ask students, What can I do to this pizza to represent the pizza that
my family ordered?

4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)

If students are able to tell you to divide the circle into four parts, do so.
Draw a different topping in each of the four parts.
Ask students, What fraction of the pizza is only cheese?
Ask students, What fraction of the pizza is only pepperoni?
Ask students, What fraction of the pizza is cheese and pepperoni?
Continue asking questions until it is evident your students have an
understanding.
10)
If students are unable to tell you to divide the pizza into four
equal parts, help them to understand why it should be four parts.
Explain to students again that there are 4 people in our family and
they each want a different topping.
11)
Whether or not your class struggled with the story problem, play
this game: http://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/fractions-match-fracpizza.html as a class. Use the computer and projector screen. It is
helpful to show students in a more concrete way how to make fractions
out of pizza.
Provide Independent Practice
1) Pass out Pizza Recording Worksheets
2) Pass out Play-Doh for each student
3) Pass out wooden dowel rods
4) Pass out plastic cups
5) Pass out paper toppings
6) Plastic knife
7) Explain to students that they will be making their own fraction pizzas
8) Explain to students what each of the materials are for
Play-doh: Represents pizza dough
Wooden Dowel Rods: Used as a rolling pin to flatten your pizza
Plastic Cups: To cut out a circle of dough for your pizza
Plastic Knife: To help you make your fractions- stress the safety
measures of using a plastic knife and warn students if they misuse the
knife one time, they will not be permitted to continue the activity
Paper Toppings: Used as toppings to make your pizzas
9) Read and explain the directions of the worksheet to students- each box
has a fraction. You are to make the fraction with your pizza, then you
must draw what you made in the boxes.
10)
When you are finished, answer the questions on the bottom. By
looking at your pictures, which fractions are the same?
11)
For students who may have trouble with fine motor skills, they
have the choice to work with a partner or use the iPads and make the
fractions on: http://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/fractions-matchfrac-pizza.html. In this case, the teacher will stay close by to monitor
their progress and make sure they understand the material.

WRAP UP
Ask students, What is a fraction?

Ask students, What is the top number in a fraction?

Ask students, What is the bottom number in a fraction?
Ask students, What are some fractions you made with your pizzas?

ASSESSMENT
Formative, Ongoing Assessment
Large group discussions
Walking observations
Pizza Recording Worksheet will serve as an assessment.
Summative Assessment
Use the Fraction Worksheet

Image from Google Images

MATERIALS
Play dough (enough for each student)
Plastic cups (to cut our circle of pizza)

Pre cut paper in the shape/color of several ingredients (pepperoni,

cheese, ham, mushroom, pineapple, etc)
Wooden dowel rods (to use as rolling pin)
Pizza Recording Worksheet
iPads, if needed
Fraction Worksheet