Fractions - Calculate Fractions of a Quantity - Starter

The 'Fluent in Four - Revision' starter activity is designed for Year 5 students as part of their Spring Term Week 9 curriculum. It aims to enhance their proficiency with fractions and calculations. The exercise includes a series of calculations that challenge students to complete mathematical equations involving addition and multiplication. For example, they are required to find the sum of fractions with the same denominator, such as adding three eighths, four eighths, and three eighths together. Additionally, they must tackle problems that involve adding multi-digit numbers, such as 8,374 plus 865, and combining numbers represented by hundreds, tens, and ones to find the total.

Another aspect of the starter activity involves estimating the value of letters representing unknown numbers in a given sequence, adding a layer of complexity and encouraging students to use their reasoning skills. Moreover, students are prompted to visually represent fractions by shading models on a grid and then adding the shaded fractions together. This visual approach helps to reinforce the concept of equivalent fractions and the process of combining them to form a whole or a larger fraction. The activity is structured to cover a variety of mathematical skills, including estimation, multiplication, and understanding the concept of place value, all of which are crucial for building a solid foundation in mathematics.