Fractions - Add Fractions within 1 (Activity) - Planning

The curriculum for Year 5 includes a lesson on adding fractions within the unit of one, an essential concept in understanding fractions. The lesson begins with a recap of previous learning, specifically addressing the addition of fractions with different denominators, where one denominator is a multiple of the other. The class is introduced to key vocabulary such as 'proper fraction', 'numerator', 'denominator', and 'common denominator', all of which are crucial for grasping the lesson's content. Students are encouraged to use resources such as vocabulary cards and definitions to support their understanding.

The lesson's activities kick off with the use of fraction strips to visually represent the addition of fractions like 1/7 and 2/14. Students discuss in pairs the relationship between the two fractions, identifying the lowest common denominator, and learning the difference between a 'multiple' and a 'factor'. As they progress, the children are guided through adding fractions on a bar model, and they practice this with further examples, discussing whether the resulting fractions need simplifying. In group work, they calculate answers to fraction problems, with varying levels of support depending on their grasp of the concept. The lesson concludes with a reflective 'Give me five' session, where students consider what they've learned, the skills they've used, and what they found challenging, ensuring they remember how to find common denominators and simplify their answers. Differentiated activities cater to students working towards expected levels, at expected fluency, and those capable of greater depth, with the latter drawing their own fraction strips.