Fraction Families

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling

• Show the students the definition for fractions on the board, then draw examples of each fraction:

  Two pieces that make up a whole are called halves, or 1/2s.
  Three pieces that make up a whole are called thirds, or 1/3s.
  Four pieces that make up a whole are called fourths, or 1/4s.

Guided Practice

• Hold up two halves of construction paper. Ask students to take out a sheet of paper. Ask for one student as a volunteer.
• Tell your class that if that student was holding one of the halves and you were holding up a half of the same color, the two of you would be in the same fraction family. Explain that together you would be called two halves.
• Point out that each of you are called one half and point to 1/2 on the board.
• Explain that your family name would be Red Halves, or whatever color your construction paper is.

Independent working time

• Tell students that they will be given a piece of a whole and they must find their family.
• When students find their family, they are to write down their names and their family name.
• Students also need to write that they are called two halves, three thirds, or four fourths. They must also write it in number form.
• Once they have written down their names, they are to have a seat and raise up their paper.