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Thinking Like Equivalent Fractions

There's a lesson related to this article at Byrdseed.TV ➔

When a fraction changes into another, equivalent fraction, it’s almost as if the fraction has donned a disguise. As I was thinking about this, I realized that this presents a fantastic opportunity to include writing in math.

Students will write a story about how one fraction has to disguise itself to fit in with a group of unlike fractions.

Perhaps 1/2 wants to:

  • fit in with some cool 16ths at Fraction High School
  • study the mysterious 10ths in their wild, jungle habitat
  • go undercover and spy on the Evil Eighths

Now we can write a story about how 1/2 would disguise itself. Perhaps it has an 8/8 machine it can use to transform into 8/16ths? What will happen at Fraction High, now that 1/2 is dressed as a 16th?

Why I love this. Once a kid can calculate equivalent fractions, there’s no reason for them to just keep practicing it. They’ve got it! Instead, we want to push them up Bloom’s Taxonomy; move them onto something that will get their brain moving in new ways; surprise them with an unexpected way of thinking.

Have six kids do this and you’ll get six totally different ideas. You’ll get actually interesting thinking. Sure you could make it a simple paragraph, but I bet you’ll have students ask if they could make a skit, a children’s book, or a green-screened video.

Done For You!

There's actually a lesson at Byrdseed.TV that's specifically about this article. Check it out

This is an example of “Get Ridiculous”

Avoid boring examples and go for the outliers! Everything's more interesting when you're working with unexpected examples.

See other examples of “Get Ridiculous” ❯❯




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