Fractions - Add Mixed Numbers - Planning

In a comprehensive Year 6 lesson on adding mixed numbers, students are introduced to the concept of combining whole numbers with fractional parts. The lesson is structured to reinforce their understanding of proper and improper fractions, as well as the importance of finding a common denominator when working with fractions. Key vocabulary such as numerator, denominator, and simplest form are essential for the lesson, with resources like worksheets and a presentation provided to aid learning. To begin, children recap on the addition of fractions and are then taught to add the whole numbers and fractional parts of mixed numbers separately. This method requires them to simplify the resulting fraction, particularly if it is an improper fraction, to ensure the answer is in its simplest form. Through partner discussions and guided practice, students learn to apply this three-step method to various sets of mixed numbers, with the aim of simplifying their final answers.

The lesson also presents an alternative approach where students convert mixed numbers into improper fractions before adding them together. This method involves finding a common denominator and simplifying the result back into a mixed number. Students are encouraged to discuss their methods and share their solutions, which helps to clarify their understanding. Further activities challenge them to apply these skills to calculations involving a mixed number and an improper fraction, ensuring they can solve and simplify these problems. Group work and independent activities with differentiated worksheets support the learning process, and key questions prompt students to think critically about the steps involved in adding mixed numbers. The lesson concludes with a reflective segment where students consider what they have learned and the skills they have used, such as converting between mixed numbers and improper fractions, and the strategies that helped them during the lesson.