Mathematical Emphasis
Investigation 1—Exploring Percents and Fractions

• Using fractions to describe how many in a group share a particular characteristic
• Finding equivalent fractions and percents
• Representing, identifying, and ordering fractions and percents; using ½ and 1 as references
• Interpreting common uses of percent
• Building on knowledge of unit fractions to use fractions with numerators greater than 1

Investigation 2—Models for Fractions

• Representing fractions as a rotation around a circle
• Marking strips into fractional parts
• Finding equivalent fractions
• Ordering fractions
• Adding fractions

Investigation 3—Exploring Decimals

• Representing and adding decimals on grids
• Reading and writing decimals
• Ordering decimals
• Dividing to find decimal equivalents of fractions
• Comparing fractions using different models and notations
• Making sense of and solving word problems

Tips For Helping At Home
Questions To Ask:

• What do you need to find out?
• What did you do in class to get started?
• Have you solved similar problems that would help?
• Can you make a drawing (model) to explain your thinking?
• What would happen if…?
• What do you need to do next?
• How do you know your answer is reasonable?
• Has the question been answered?
• Are there any questions you want to ask your teacher?

Doing More Math at Home

• When your child brings home “Completed Percent Equivalent Strips”, consider posting one. When fractions or percents come up in conversation, consult the strip to find the equivalent value.
• From time to time your child will bring home a number game to play with family members. Please sit down and play these games with your child. All the games involve strategy as well as work with fractions, percents, or decimals.

Vocabulary Terms

Decimal

Numeral less than a whole expressed in powers of ten (tenths, hundredths, thousandths)

Equivalent

Having the same value or amount

Fraction

Any part of a group, number, or whole

Fraction Strips

Strips marked with halves, thirds, fourths, fifths, and sixths for use with fraction problems

Grid

10 x 10 square grid used with fraction, decimal, and percent problems

Percent

Number out of 100

Mathematics Strategy—Fractions on Clocks
In this fractional model, children find fractions that represent the rotation of one hand around a clock face. This model of fractions helps children understand fractional units of halves, thirds, fourths, sixths, and twelfths.

This model provides children with a concrete model to begin work with addition and subtraction of fractions.

Source: Investigations in Number, Data, and Space: Name That Portion. Dale Seymour, 1998. (Pages 34-37)

Mathematics Game—Fraction Challenge

Materials

Players: 2 or more

Playing the Game

1. Divide the deck into equal-sized piles, one for each player. All cards stay upside down.



2. Each player turns over the top card in his or her pile. The player with the largest fraction wins. The winner gets all of the other players’ cards and adds them to the bottom of his or her own cards.



3. If two of the cards are equivalent, those two players turn over a second card. The larger fraction wins all of the cards from that round.



4. The game can be won in two ways. Play can continue until one player holds all of the cards and is the winner. A second method is to play for a specific time period and the player with the most cards wins.

Get to Fraction Cards (for printing)