Mentor Teaching · Model and guided practice

Unit Fractions: Equal Parts and the Same Whole

Worked teaching example

Strip C is one whole divided into three equal parts; one part is shaded. Name the shaded part with words and fraction notation. Explain what the 1 and 3 tell us.

Strip C: a strip split into 3 equal parts. The leftmost part is shaded.
Strip C: a strip split into 3 equal parts. The leftmost part is shaded.

Teaching example — reasoning intentionally shown

One whole is split into three equal-sized parts. We name one of those parts one third: 1/3. The denominator tells how many equal parts make this whole; the numerator tells how many of those parts are named. Equal size matters, not just the number of pieces.

Unit fractions · edition 1.0.2 · Model and guided practice · 1 / 4

Mentor Teaching · Model and guided practice

Unit Fractions: Equal Parts and the Same Whole

Guided practice 1

Strip D is one whole. Name the one shaded part and explain both numbers in your fraction.

Strip D: a strip split into 6 equal parts. The leftmost part is shaded.
Strip D: a strip split into 6 equal parts. The leftmost part is shaded.

Show or explain your reasoning. Use the space below or continue on separate paper.

Unit fractions · edition 1.0.2 · Model and guided practice · 2 / 4

Mentor Teaching · Model and guided practice

Unit Fractions: Equal Parts and the Same Whole

Guided practice 2

Strips E and F represent the same-sized whole. E has one of two equal parts shaded; F has one of four equal parts shaded. Which shaded part is larger? Explain with the strips.

Strip E: a strip split into 2 equal parts. The leftmost part is shaded. Strip F: a strip split into 4 equal parts. The leftmost part is shaded. The complete strips are the same length.
Strip E: a strip split into 2 equal parts. The leftmost part is shaded. Strip F: a strip split into 4 equal parts. The leftmost part is shaded. The complete strips are the same length.

Show or explain your reasoning. Use the space below or continue on separate paper.

Unit fractions · edition 1.0.2 · Model and guided practice · 3 / 4

Mentor Teaching · Model and guided practice

Unit Fractions: Equal Parts and the Same Whole

Guided practice 3

A learner says, “Strip B has three parts, so its shaded piece must be one third.” Is that reasoning enough? Explain and sketch a whole in which one part really is one third.

Strip A: a strip split into 4 equal parts. The leftmost part is shaded. Strip B: a strip split into three parts that get larger from left to right. The leftmost part is shaded. The complete strips are the same length.
Strip A: a strip split into 4 equal parts. The leftmost part is shaded. Strip B: a strip split into three parts that get larger from left to right. The leftmost part is shaded. The complete strips are the same length.

Show or explain your reasoning. Use the space below or continue on separate paper.