Max Maths, Year 3, Learn together, Comparing and ordering fractions (2)

In the Max Maths Year 3 curriculum, children continue to explore the concept of comparing and ordering fractions with a hands-on and visual approach. Through the use of coloured rectangles, students are encouraged to see and understand the size of different fractions. For instance, when comparing fractions of the same rectangle, they notice that a quarter (1/4) of the rectangle coloured red is smaller than three quarters (3/4) coloured green. This visual representation helps to concretely demonstrate that 1/4 is less than 3/4, and conversely, 3/4 is more than 1/4. Such comparisons are crucial for building a solid foundation in understanding the relative sizes of fractions.

Further comparison is made between fractions with the same denominator, as students observe that five tenths (5/10) of another rectangle coloured blue is less than nine tenths (9/10) coloured yellow. This activity prompts students to recognise that when the denominators are the same, the fraction with the larger numerator represents a greater portion of the whole. It's an engaging way for the children to notice patterns and relationships between fractions, reinforcing their comprehension of how to compare and order them based on the size of their numerators when their denominators are identical.