Fractions - Making the whole - Planning

In a Year 3 summer term lesson focused on fractions, the students explore the concept of 'Making the whole'. National Curriculum objectives are targeted, ensuring that children can count in tenths, understand unit and non-unit fractions with small denominators, and recognise when fractions are equivalent to a whole. The key vocabulary for the unit includes terms such as 'fraction', 'numerator', 'denominator', and 'equivalent', among others. The lesson begins with a review of previous learning, where students consider whole shapes and quantities, and identify that a fraction equals a whole when its numerator and denominator are identical. They also revisit the part-whole model, a tool for dividing a whole into fractional parts.

The lesson's activities are designed to reinforce the understanding of fractions as parts of a whole. In the first activity, students use visual aids to identify that three thirds, four quarters, and so on, make up a whole. They are encouraged to think about why certain fractions, when combined, result in a whole. Further exercises involve identifying parts of a whole through different colours and using the part-whole model to add up fractional parts. Differentiated worksheets provide independent learning opportunities, tailored to support students working towards expected levels and those capable of greater depth. The plenary includes reflective questions, prompting students to consider their understanding of fractions as a whole, and common misconceptions are addressed to solidify learning. Finally, the 'Give me five' activity allows students to self-assess their learning, skills used, and what they found challenging, ensuring they remember the key concepts from the lesson.