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: whole drawn length 240; consecutive part lengths 80, 80, 80; part 1 shaded. Lengths describe the drawing in a common unit.
Strip C: whole drawn length 240; consecutive part lengths 80, 80, 80; part 1 shaded. Lengths describe the drawing in a common unit.

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 1.0.1 · 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: whole drawn length 240; consecutive part lengths 40, 40, 40, 40, 40, 40; part 1 shaded. Lengths describe the drawing in a common unit.
Strip D: whole drawn length 240; consecutive part lengths 40, 40, 40, 40, 40, 40; part 1 shaded. Lengths describe the drawing in a common unit.

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

Unit fractions · edition 1.0.1 · 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: whole drawn length 240; consecutive part lengths 120, 120; part 1 shaded. Strip F: whole drawn length 240; consecutive part lengths 60, 60, 60, 60; part 1 shaded. Lengths describe the drawing in a common unit.
Strip E: whole drawn length 240; consecutive part lengths 120, 120; part 1 shaded. Strip F: whole drawn length 240; consecutive part lengths 60, 60, 60, 60; part 1 shaded. Lengths describe the drawing in a common unit.

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

Unit fractions · edition 1.0.1 · 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: whole drawn length 240; consecutive part lengths 60, 60, 60, 60; part 1 shaded. Strip B: whole drawn length 240; consecutive part lengths 40, 80, 120; part 1 shaded. Lengths describe the drawing in a common unit.
Strip A: whole drawn length 240; consecutive part lengths 60, 60, 60, 60; part 1 shaded. Strip B: whole drawn length 240; consecutive part lengths 40, 80, 120; part 1 shaded. Lengths describe the drawing in a common unit.

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