Fractions - Compare and order (denominator) (1) - Worksheet

The "Compare and Order (Denominator)" worksheet is designed to help Year 6 students master the skill of comparing and ordering fractions. The National Curriculum objective for this lesson is to enable students to compare and order fractions, including those greater than 1. To achieve this, the worksheet provides differentiated activities that encourage the use of equivalent fractions to compare fractions with different denominators. Students are tasked with finding the lowest common multiple (LCM) of the denominators to identify equivalent fractions with the same denominator, allowing them to then compare the numerators to determine which fraction is larger or smaller. The use of bar models is encouraged to help visualize the size of the fractions, aiding in the comparison before and after converting.

Key vocabulary terms such as "equivalent fractions," "compare fractions," "denominator," "numerator," and "convert" are integral to this lesson. The worksheet poses important questions to guide students' understanding, such as how to multiply the numerator and denominator to find the correct equivalent fraction once the LCM is known, and how comparing mixed numbers differs from comparing proper fractions. Additionally, students are encouraged to plot fractions on a number line and to consider which fractions are larger or smaller than a half, aiding in the ordering process. The worksheet provides a structured approach to compare fractions using bar models and the LCM method, with reasoning and problem-solving tasks to deepen understanding and assess fluency and precision in handling fractions.