BuilderGrade 3⏱ 15 min
What is a fraction?
Split a whole into equal parts and see the same fraction as a bar, a circle and a point on a number line.
Standards: 3.NF.A.13.NF.A.23.NF.A.3
1Wonder
You and three friends share one pizza. Everyone wants a fair slice. How much does each person get?
And if you eat 3 slices, how could you write down how much of the pizza you ate?
2Explore
This activity needs a bigger screen
Turn your phone sideways, or open this lesson on a tablet or computer. The explanation and quiz below work here.
3/4 = 3 of 4 equal parts 👆 Tap a part to shade up to it
Equal parts
Shaded parts
Try this
- Make 4 equal parts and shade 3. Look at the bar, the circle and the number line. Do they all show the same amount?
- Shade all the parts. What fraction is that? Where is the point on the number line?
- Keep 1 part shaded and make more and more parts. Does 1/2, 1/3, 1/4… get bigger or smaller?
- Find another way to show half: try 2/4, 3/6, 4/8.
3Explain
Step 1 of 5
Start with one whole
A fraction is always a part of one whole: one pizza, one chocolate bar, or the distance from 0 to 1.
Reading a fraction
34← how many parts we take← how many equal parts make one whole
4Practice
Question 1 of 5
What fraction of the bar is shaded?
5Recap
- A fraction describes part of one whole that is cut into equal parts.
- Bottom number (denominator): how many equal parts make the whole.
- Top number (numerator): how many of those parts you have.
- A fraction is a number. It has a place on the number line, and 3/4 is three jumps of 1/4.
- Different fractions can name the same amount: 1/2 = 2/4 = 4/8.
- More parts in the whole means each part is smaller: 1/5 < 1/3.