Fractions - Add fractions - Presentation

In today's lesson, students will explore the concept of adding fractions with identical denominators. The focus is on understanding the numerators and denominators in the given fractions. For instance, when presented with the calculation of adding 2/8 to 4/8, pupils are encouraged to observe that while the denominators (8) remain the same, the numerators (2 and 4) are different. This is a fundamental step in grasping how to combine fractions effectively. Students will discuss their observations and use this knowledge to solve addition problems with fractions.

The lesson involves interactive activities where students use visual aids to reinforce their understanding of fraction addition. One such activity requires them to fold a piece of paper into eight equal parts, colouring in two parts blue and four parts white, to visually represent the fractions before adding them together. This hands-on approach helps students to see that six out of the eight parts are coloured in total. Another activity uses a paper circle divided into four equal parts, with different sections coloured to represent quarters. These visual models aid in completing sentences about the coloured fractions and in adding them together. The lesson also includes diagram-based exercises and problem-solving scenarios, like figuring out the combined fraction of pizza eaten by two characters, to further develop students' fluency and reasoning skills in adding fractions.