Fractions - Unit fractions - Planning

The lesson plan for Year 3 students in their third week of learning about fractions during the Spring term focuses on understanding unit fractions. The key vocabulary for the lesson includes terms such as fractions, quantity, recognise, unit fraction, non-unit fractions, halves, thirds, quarters, denominator, numerator, and represent. Students start by completing 'fluent in four' questions to recap their previous knowledge of fractions, particularly recognising and finding thirds, quarters, and halves. They are reminded that the denominator indicates the number of equal parts a whole is divided into, and the numerator represents the shaded or selected parts.

During the class, children engage in various activities using teaching slides and differentiated sheets. They count the number of parts a bar is divided into and identify the shaded section, learning that when only one part is shaded, it represents a unit fraction, such as ½, 1/3, or ¼. As they progress, students explore how the size of the fraction changes in relation to the denominator. They apply this understanding to quantities, using bar models to visualise splitting objects into groups and identifying fractions of the whole. Reasoning and problem-solving tasks encourage children to use bar models to support their understanding of fractions. The lesson concludes with a reflection on the skills learned and applied, as well as a 'Give me five' activity where students assess their learning, identify areas that were challenging, and make a commitment to remember key concepts. Differentiated activities cater to various levels of understanding, ensuring that all children, whether working towards, at expected level, or at greater depth, are supported and challenged appropriately.