Teach your students to add and subtract fractions with like denominators using a strategy that works for both operations: converting mixed numbers into improper fractions and back again!

Encourage students to explain their processes when converting from a mixed number to an improper fraction, and back again. Use this lesson on its own or as support to the lesson Single Strategy for Adding and Subtracting Mixed Numbers.

Solve for the sum of two mixed numbers! They will use scaffolds such as fraction models to support the visualization of mixed numbers. This can be used on its own or as support for the lesson Sums for Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions.

Does chaos ensue when your students subtract like mixed numbers and the larger fraction has a lesser numerator? Using this lesson plan, teach your class how to overcome this tricky obstacle: When having like denominators isn’t enough!