Fractions - Count in tenths - Planning

The Year 3 summer term lesson on fractions introduces students to counting in tenths. The session begins with a warm-up where children recap their previous knowledge by answering starter questions. The key vocabulary for the lesson includes 'fractions' and 'counting', and resources such as worksheets and a presentation are provided to support learning. The children are taught to count up and down in tenths using various representations, and they explore the concept of counting past one whole without the need to write mixed numbers, although they may recognise one whole as 1 and one tenth as 1.1 due to their understanding of what constitutes a whole number.

During the lesson, a range of activities are employed to engage the students. The first activity uses a counting stick to demonstrate counting in intervals of two tenths. The second activity involves building the skill of counting in tenths through pictures, words, and fractions. In the third activity, children are presented with a puzzle that requires counting in tenths, where they must identify patterns or clues to complete a maze using digits and words. The final activity encourages children to think about the process of counting in tenths, promoting a deeper understanding rather than just memorisation. Throughout the lesson, children work on differentiated worksheets to practice their skills independently. The plenary session involves reflection, where students consider what they have learned, the skills they have used, any difficulties encountered, and the resources or assistance that aided their learning. They also make a 'pinkie promise' to remember key aspects of the lesson. The differentiated worksheets cater to various levels of proficiency, from working towards the expected level to achieving greater depth, with reasoning problems related to counting in tenths to challenge and assess understanding.