A focused Grade 3 learning session for Equivalence of Fractions using visual models, worked examples, strategy guidance, and a short mastery check.
Student goal: I can explain when fractions are equivalent and compare their sizes.
Equivalence of Fractions means using equal parts, number lines, and clear fraction language to describe parts of a whole.
Question: Look at the fraction bars. Which fraction is equivalent to \(\frac{1}{3}\)?
Why it works: The shaded regions match. \(\frac{1}{3}\) and \(\frac{2}{6}\) are equivalent.
Answer: \(\frac{2}{6}\)
Question: Look at the bars. Which statement is NOT true?
Answer: All three show the same amount
Question: Look at the pies. Which statement is true?
Answer: They show the same amount
Question: Noah loses \(3\) of \(6\) marbles. What fraction did he lose in simplest form?
Why it works: \(\frac{3}{6}=\frac{1}{2}\).
Answer: \(\frac{1}{2}\)
Equivalence of Fractions becomes easier when students connect the question to a model, use clear steps, and explain why the answer fits.
Equal parts first, fraction name second.
Use scratch paper. The explanation matters more than simply seeing whether the choice is correct.
Which fraction is equivalent to \(\frac{1}{2}\)?
Answer B: \(\frac{2}{4}\)
\(\frac{1}{2}\) and \(\frac{2}{4}\) represent the same amount. Both show half of a whole.
Look at the fraction bars. Which fraction is equivalent to \(\frac{1}{3}\)?
Answer B: \(\frac{2}{6}\)
The shaded regions match. \(\frac{1}{3}\) and \(\frac{2}{6}\) are equivalent.
Which fraction is equivalent to \(\frac{2}{3}\)?
Answer A: \(\frac{4}{6}\)
\(\frac{2}{3}\) and \(\frac{4}{6}\) represent the same amount. Both show two-thirds.
Look at the bars. Which statement is NOT true?
Answer C: All three show the same amount
The first and second bars are equivalent. But the third bar shows \(\frac{1}{3}\), which is larger than \(\frac{1}{2}\), so all three do NOT show the same amount. Answer C is false.
Look at the pies. Which statement is true?
Answer A: They show the same amount
Both pies show the same shaded region. \(\frac{1}{4}\) and \(\frac{2}{8}\) are equivalent.
Which fraction is equivalent to \(\frac{3}{4}\)?
Answer C: \(\frac{6}{8}\)
\(\frac{3}{4}\) and \(\frac{6}{8}\) both show three-fourths of a whole.
Lily has 2 equal pieces of a sandwich. She eats 1 piece. What fraction did she eat?
Answer C: \(\frac{1}{2}\)
Lily ate 1 out of 2 pieces, which is \(\frac{1}{2}\).
Look at the number line. Which fraction equals \(\frac{2}{6}\)?
Answer B: \(\frac{1}{3}\)
On the number line, \(\frac{2}{6}\) and \(\frac{1}{3}\) mark the same point.
Which fraction is equivalent to \(\frac{1}{4}\)?
Answer A: \(\frac{2}{8}\)
\(\frac{1}{4}\) and \(\frac{2}{8}\) both show one-quarter of a whole.
Look at the bars. Are \(\frac{1}{2}\) and \(\frac{2}{4}\) equivalent?
Answer A: Yes, they are equivalent
Both bars show the same amount shaded. \(\frac{1}{2}\) and \(\frac{2}{4}\) are equal.
Sam eats 1 slice from a 3-slice pizza. Which fraction is equivalent to what he ate?
Answer A: \(\frac{2}{6}\)
Sam ate \(\frac{1}{3}\), which is equivalent to \(\frac{2}{6}\).
