Fractions - Add Fractions - Presentation

In today's lesson on adding fractions, students revisit the fundamental concept of how to combine fractions correctly. The key question posed is whether to add the numerators or the denominators, and why. This forms the basis of the lesson's discussion and activities. The first activity involves practical learning, where students fold a piece of paper into eight equal parts, colour two parts blue and four parts white, and then use this model to complete statements about the fractions of the paper that are coloured. This hands-on approach helps students visualise the fractions and the process of adding them, reinforcing the idea that when adding fractions, it's the numerators that are combined while the denominators remain the same.

Further activities build on this understanding, using paper circles divided into quarters, which students colour in different sections to represent fractions before adding them together. This visual and interactive method continues to underscore the concept of adding the numerators. The lesson also includes diagram-based exercises where students draw their own models to calculate the sum of various fractions, such as two-sixths plus three-sixths. In a problem-solving activity, students are presented with scenarios such as Rosie and Esin eating different fractions of a pizza, and they must determine the total fraction consumed. This engages students in practical reasoning and helps them understand common mistakes, such as incorrectly adding denominators. Independent work reinforces the lesson's objectives, encouraging students to apply their knowledge to new situations and discuss their reasoning.