Fractions - Add 3 or More Fractions - Presentation

The lesson on adding three or more fractions is an extension of the knowledge of adding two fractions. It begins with a discussion prompt, encouraging students to consider the similarities and differences between adding two fractions and adding three or more. The teaching slides guide the students through various activities that involve adding fractions with different denominators. For instance, one activity uses a bar model to visually represent the addition of fractions like 1/2 + 1/4 + 2/8, helping students to understand how to combine these to make a whole. The lesson not only reinforces the concept of adding fractions but also introduces the importance of finding a common denominator to simplify the process.

Additional activities challenge students to apply their understanding in more complex scenarios. For example, they might imagine dividing a cake into fractions, with different portions decorated in various colours, and then calculate the total fraction of the cake that is decorated. This real-life application helps to contextualise the mathematical concept. The lesson also includes reasoning tasks where students must critique methods used in adding fractions, such as identifying mistakes made when not finding a common denominator. The independent work section offers further practice with bar models and equations, and prompts students to explore multiple solutions to problems involving the addition of fractions, thereby deepening their comprehension and problem-solving skills.