Many students struggle with fractions throughout elementary and middle school, so it is important that students have a thorough understanding of what fractions are, estimating and comparing amounts visually and numerically, and recognizing reasonable answers. Storyboard That will make learning fractions fun!
If I were to walk along a number line, I could take a step on each whole number.
"Snails do not walk or hop."
1/2
"We creep."
1/3
2/3
"Slowly."
The snail has moved a small distance, but he hasn't gotten to the '1' yet on the number line. He has only moved a fraction!
I am a rockstar.
Our whole is the distance between 0 and 1, and it has been split into 2 equal parts. The snail has moved 1 of those parts and is now located at 1/2 on the number line.
WHOLE
Our whole stays the same, but now it has been split into 3 equal parts. The snail has moved 2 of those parts and has arrived at 2/3 on the number line.
WHOLE
Look! The snail has made it 3/4 of the way to 1 on the number line!
WHOLE
Check this out. The snail has moved the entire distance of the WHOLE. That's the same as 1, 2/2, 3/3, and 4/4 on the number line!