This week, I wanted to focus on how to add fractions. Since I focused on how to identify and explain fractions for third grade last week, this felt like the next step. Additionally, after reviewing fractions, I still feel like I need refreshers on how to add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions in an efficient way. I also think that teaching these topics to students can be very difficult if you don't spend time figuring out the most simple and straightforward way to explain the steps. I used the K5 learning website again, which I also used last week to help me identify fractions. I came across this worksheet - which really helped refresh the fraction/addition process for me, and thought it would be helpful for my fellow classmates to use!
This sheet has problem sets that are quite simple because the denominators are all the same, but it is a good stepping stone to just get students comfortable with adding fractions in general. For example, in the second problem, you can simply add the two numerators, put it over the denominator that is already there. So, 1+1=2, and the denominator is 3, so the answer would be 2/3. This is simple and straightforward addition.
When thinking about how to explain this to students, I tried practicing with my preschoolers again. While they don't understand how fractions, they do know and understand numbers and how to count. So, what we did on a white board was draw a box and split it into three sections. Then we drew another box and again, split it into three sections. For each box, we colored in one section each, to represent 1/3. When I asked my preschoolers to count how many sections were colored in, they correctly said "Two, Miss Prianka!" Then I asked them to count how many sections we had split the box into, and they correctly said three. While they didn't understanding what 2/3 meant, they still were able to use this method to figure out what the answer was (even if they didn't realize they were adding fractions through this process!).
Really awesome lesson, fractions were always something that was hard for me. Its true that you can understand something however when it comes to teaching you can find yourself at a loss. It is such a cool idea that you test out the lessons on your preschoolers to see if they understand, because its true that if they get it then older kids would too. I am going to keep that in mind moving forward!
ReplyDeleteI really like how you tried this with your Pre-K students. I think that is really interesting to start introducing concepts on a simple level from a young age, and then build on them as students get older. I think that is what a lot of the common core tries to emphasize and focus on. Fractions were and still are really hard, so I like how you broke it down! Great job!
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