Fractions - Find a third - Presentation

In a lesson centred on fractions, specifically focusing on finding a third, students are encouraged to deepen their understanding of what constitutes a third of a whole. The lesson begins with a discussion prompt, asking students to recall the meaning of 'third' and to complete a sentence that helps explain the concept. The sentence structure provided is "The whole has been divided into ___ equal parts. Each part is one___ of the whole." This lays the groundwork for the activities that follow, which require students to apply their knowledge of thirds in practical scenarios. For instance, they are asked to divide a number of cubes into three equal parts to visually and tangibly grasp the idea of a third.

The lesson further challenges students with more complex problems. In one activity, a character named Zach bakes nine gingerbread men and takes a third of them to school. Students must figure out how many are left, reinforcing their ability to calculate a third of a number. Another task presents Zach with a wooden stick, which he cuts into three equal parts; students must then determine the length of half the stick based on the length of one third. Towards the end of the lesson, students work independently, using bar models and physical objects like cubes to solve fraction problems and prove their answers. They are prompted to consider how the size of the whole affects the size of a third and to explain their reasoning, ensuring they not only perform the calculations but also understand the underlying concepts.