☰ Year plan · Mathematics

Comparing fractions and checking work

Week 21 · Comparing fractions and checking work · 3 lessons
3

Fraction card game

Discover Mathematics P3: Term 2, Lessons 81–90
GoalMatch fraction cards to models and play a game that compares fractions.
New words
fraction card · a card with a fraction written on itmodel · a picture or object that shows a fractionmatch · to find two things that go together
Explanation

A fraction card shows a fraction, and a model shows the same fraction in a picture. To match them, count the equal parts in the whole for the bottom number, then count the shaded parts for the top number. A bar with 6 equal parts and 4 shaded matches the card 4/6. Here is a game for two players called Fraction Race. Make cards for the fractions 1/8 to 7/8. Each player turns over one card. The player with the greater fraction wins both cards. If the fractions are equal, turn over another card. The player with more cards after all rounds wins.

CardWhole is cut intoShaded parts
4/664
3/883
2/332
Worked examples
Match the card 2/3 to a model. The model must have 3 equal parts, with 2 of them shaded.
A round of Fraction Race: Hana turns over 5/8 and Karim turns over 3/8. Both are eighths, and 5 > 3, so Hana wins both cards.
Another round: Seif turns over 1/2 and Nour turns over 1/8. Halves are much bigger than eighths, so 1/2 > 1/8 and Seif wins. The models of 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 show this.
Class activity

Make the game. Cut 14 small cards. Write 1/8, 2/8, 3/8, 4/8, 5/8, 6/8 and 7/8 on seven of them. On the other seven draw a model for each fraction. First match the pairs, then play Fraction Race with a partner using the cards with fractions.

Practice
1
Which fraction card matches the model?
2
Draw a model for the card 3/8.
3
Which fraction card matches this model?
4
In a round, Youssef draws 2/8 and Malak draws 6/8. Who wins, and by how many eighths?
5
Which unit fraction card is the greatest: 1/3, 1/6 or 1/2?