Teacher Resources - Level 5 Resources

Treasures from the Attic: Exploring Fractions

Bingwa multicultural software: 5th & 6th grade module. (1995). Bingwa Software Company, Inc.

This software is designed to teach students mathematics in a multicultural context. Each lesson involves either a female or minority figure and are designed to relate the mathematics to other aspects of students’ lives. The fraction lesson allows to students to participate in activities that help them find equivalent fractions and work with mixed number, among other activities.

Fractions and decimals. (1994). Virtual Microtechnology Inc.

This software contains various activities which enable students to practice the basic notions of fractions. Each of the activities involves practice for the students in solving story problems. The software has an option that allows teachers to keep track of Understanding fractions v9.0 deluxe. (2004). Neufeld Learning students’ records or lets students practice without record keeping.

http://www.aaamath.com/fra.html
This web site contains many different applets for students to use to practice their fraction skills. Students can continually practice fraction problems while it keeps track of the number of questions the student got right and wrong in a given time period.

http://www.visualfractions.com/
This site allows students to test themselves on their abilities to identify, rename, compare, add and subtract fractions. Each of these topics is presented in several ways and the students have the opportunity to answer questions presented with them while the computer keeps track of their score and time.

http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/search.html?qt=fraction
This site contains many applets in which students can practice various operations with fractions. The students can practice using equivalent fractions and adding and subtracting fractions.

http://illuminations.nctm.org/activitydetail.aspx?id=80
The activity on this site allows students to experiment with equivalent fractions. The students are given a shape that is partially shaded, and they must create rows and columns in two other congruent shapes and shade their parts so that the two fractions are equivalent.

http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=18
This game allows students to practice adding fractions. The student is given one fraction card at a time and must move markers on various fraction lines so that the total move is less than or equal to the fraction on the card. The object is to move all markers to the end of the row in as few cards as possible. The game can be played with one or two players.

Burns, M. (2000). About teaching mathematics: A K-8 resource, 2nd ed. Sausalito, CA: Math Solutions Publications.

Lappan, G., Fey, J., Fitzgerald, W., Friel, S. & Phillips, E. (1998). Bits and pieces I: Understanding rational numbers. Menlo Park, CA: Dale Seymour Publications.

Lessons are provided which ask students to understand fractions in various contexts. The unit is designed to aid students in developing the concept of fractions and grapple with interesting problems involving them.

Lappan, G., Fey, J., Fitzgerald, W., Friel, S. & Phillips, E. (1998). Bits and pieces II: Using rational numbers. Menlo Park, CA: Dale Seymour Publications.

In this unit, students build upon their initial understanding of rational numbers and fractions developed during their work in the first unit. Students apply their knowledge to make sense of more complex situations.

Litwiller, B. & Bright, G. (Eds). (2002). Making sense of fractions, ratios, and proportions: 2002 yearbook. Reston, VA: NCTM.

This book contains many articles written for NCTM which aid teachers in developing students’ understanding of fractions. A section delineating activities is provided for teachers to try in their classrooms with their students.

Alcaro, O., Alston, A., & Katims, N. (2000). Fractions attack! Children thinking and talking mathematically. Teaching Children Mathematics, 6, 562-567.

Anderson, C., Anderson, K., & Wenzel, E. (2000). Oil and water don't mix, but they do teach fractions. Teaching Children Mathematics, 7, 174-178.

Burns, J. (1998). Shopping mall assessment. Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 3, 488-489.

Caldwell, J. (1995). Communication about fractions with pattern blocks. Teaching Children Mathematics, 2, 156-161.

Camblin, B. (1998). The mathematics in your note paper. Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 4, 168-169.

Edelman, L. (1997). The fractions of a day. Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 3, 192-195.

Empson, S. (1995). Using sharing situations to help children learn fractions. Teaching Children Mathematics, 2, 110-114.

Michalowicz, K. (1996). Fractions of ancient Egypt in the contemporary classroom. Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 1, 786-789.

Moyer, P. & Kosbob, S. (2004). Picnicking with fractions. Teaching Children Mathematics, 10, 375-381.

Moyer, P. & Mailley, E. (2004). Inchworm and a half: Developing fraction and measurement concepts using mathematical representations. Teaching Children Mathematics, 10, 244-252.

Ortiz, E. (2000). A game involving fraction squares. Teaching Children Mathematics, 7, 218-222.

Rocke, J. (1995). A common-cents approach to fractions. Teaching Children Mathematics, 2, 234-236.

Ward, R. (1999). Dominoes as fractions: Misconceptions and understandings. Mathematics Teaching in the Middle School, 5, 162-165.