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reSolve: Fraction Benchmarks

Teacher guide reSolve: Fraction Benchmarks

TLF ID M025816

This sequence of two lessons focuses on the idea that fractions are numbers and builds students' understanding of the relative sizes of fractions. Students build their fractional sense through determining if fractions are closest to 0, 1/2 or 1. In the first lesson, students use sets of fraction cards to sort fractions in numerical order and decide whether they are closer to 0, 1/2 or 1. In the second lesson, students build on this understanding to play a game and develop further strategies for ordering fractions. The lessons are outlined in detail including curriculum links, vocabulary, materials needed, sample answers, discussion points and student resources. This sequence is part of the reSolve: Maths by Inquiry program.

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Educational details

Educational value
  • This resource is extremely valuable for the year 6 mathematics content description about comparing fractions with related denominators and locating them on a number line. Students are engaged in a card activity to order fractions with related denominators, comparing them to 0, 1/2 and 1 using a range of strategies to place them on a number line.
  • The resource is also valuable for supporting the Numeracy general capability. The lesson provides multiple opportunities for students to visualise, describe and order equivalent fractions as they order their fraction cards and engage in playing the fraction benchmark game.
  • This resource is also of pedagogical value as it supports teachers in building an inquiry-focused learning environment with authentic application of mathematical skills and understandings. The unit aims to develop content knowledge as well as assisting students to understand the process of inquiry.
Year level

6

Topics Number lines Equivalent fractions Thirds Quarters Halves Related denominators
Learning area
  • Mathematics

Other details

Contributors
  • Contributor
  • Name: Education Services Australia
  • Organization: Education Services Australia
  • Description: Data manager
  • Address: VIC, AUSTRALIA
  • URL: http://www.esa.edu.au/
  • Copyright Holder
  • Name: Australian Government Department of Education and Training
  • Organization: Australian Government Department of Education and Training
  • Publisher
  • Name: Australian Academy of Science
  • Organization: Australian Academy of Science
  • Description: Publisher
  • URL: https://www.science.org.au/
  • Resource metadata contributed by
  • Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Organisation: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Address: AUSTRALIA
  • URL: www.esa.edu.au
Access profile
  • Unknown
Learning Resource Type
  • Online
Rights
  • © Australian Government Department of Education and Training 2017. Unless otherwise indicated, this material may be used in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.