Lesson Plan
Fraction Fun: Multi-Step Challenges
Students will be able to solve multi-step word problems involving the addition and subtraction of fractions with unlike denominators, demonstrating a clear understanding of finding common denominators and applying operations.
Mastering fraction operations is key to understanding many real-world situations, from cooking to carpentry. This lesson helps students build confidence in tackling complex problems and develops critical thinking skills.
Audience
5th Grade Small Group
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Guided practice and collaborative problem-solving.
Materials
Small whiteboards or scratch paper, Dry-erase markers (if using whiteboards), Printed copies of Fraction Challenge Worksheet, Fraction Challenge Answer Key, Fraction Fun Slides, and Cool-Down Ticket
Prep
Teacher Preparation
10 minutes
- Review the Fraction Fun Slides and practice the script.
- Print enough copies of the Fraction Challenge Worksheet for each student.
- Have the Fraction Challenge Answer Key ready for quick reference.
- Prepare small whiteboards and markers, or ensure students have scratch paper.
- Review the Cool-Down Ticket.
- Review all generated materials as needed.
Step 1
Warm-Up: Denominator Detective (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Display a simple fraction addition problem (e.g., 1/2 + 1/3) on the board or screen.
2. Ask students: "What's the first thing we need to do to solve this?" (Find a common denominator).
3. Briefly review how to find a common denominator using multiplication or listing multiples.
4. Solve the warm-up problem together as a group.
Step 2
Introduction to Multi-Step Problems (5 minutes)
5 minutes
- Present the first problem from the Fraction Challenge Worksheet on the Fraction Fun Slides.
2. Explain that today they will tackle problems with more than one step.
3. Guide students to identify the different parts of the problem and what operations are needed.
Step 3
Guided Practice: Step-by-Step Solving (10 minutes)
10 minutes
- Work through the first two problems on the Fraction Challenge Worksheet together as a group, using the Fraction Fun Slides to guide the discussion.
2. Emphasize:
* Reading the problem carefully.
* Identifying key information and the question being asked.
* Breaking the problem into smaller steps.
* Finding common denominators for addition/subtraction.
* Performing the operations accurately.
* Checking if the answer makes sense.
Step 4
Collaborative Challenge (7 minutes)
7 minutes
- Assign students to work in pairs or individually on the remaining problems on the Fraction Challenge Worksheet.
2. Circulate and provide individualized support, prompting students with questions rather than giving direct answers.
3. Encourage students to explain their thinking to their partners.
Step 5
Cool-Down & Share (3 minutes)
3 minutes
- Bring the group back together.
2. Ask students to share one problem they found challenging and how they approached it.
3. Distribute the Cool-Down Ticket and have students complete it individually. Collect for quick assessment of understanding.
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Slide Deck
Fraction Fun: Multi-Step Challenges!
Are you ready to become a Fraction Problem-Solving Champion?
Welcome students and introduce the day's focus: tackling tricky fraction word problems! Ask a student to read the title aloud.
Warm-Up: Denominator Detective
Let's review! How would you solve this?
$ \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{3} = ? $
Start with a quick review. Display this problem and ask students how they would begin to solve it. Guide them to recall finding common denominators.
Today's Challenge: Multi-Step Magic!
Sometimes, one step isn't enough!
Today, we'll solve word problems that need more than one fraction step.
Let's look at the first problem on your Fraction Challenge Worksheet together.
Introduce the idea of multi-step problems. Explain that sometimes a problem needs more than one operation. Use the first problem from the worksheet as an example.
Guided Practice: Step-by-Step Solving
Problem 1: The Baking Adventure
Maria is baking cookies and needs $ \frac{3}{4} $ cup of flour. She already has $ \frac{1}{2} $ cup. Her friend gave her an additional $ \frac{1}{8} $ cup. How much more flour does Maria need?
- Step 1: What do we know? What do we need to find out?
- Step 2: What operations will we use?
- Step 3: Solve together!
(See Fraction Challenge Worksheet for problem details.)
Guide students through the first example problem. Break it down into reading, identifying operations, finding common denominators, solving, and checking.
Guided Practice: More Practice!
Problem 2: The Marathon Relay
A team is running a marathon relay. The first runner completes $ \frac{1}{3} $ of the race, and the second runner completes $ \frac{2}{9} $ of the race. If the third runner needs to complete the rest, what fraction of the race does the third runner run?
- Step 1: Understand the problem.
- Step 2: Plan your steps.
- Step 3: Let's solve it!
(See Fraction Challenge Worksheet for problem details.)
Continue with the second example, reinforcing the problem-solving steps. Encourage student participation in each step.
Your Turn: Collaborative Challenge!
Now it's your chance to be the problem-solving experts!
Work with a partner or independently on the remaining problems in your Fraction Challenge Worksheet.
- Remember to:
- Read carefully!
- Break it down!
- Find common denominators!
- Show your work!
Transition to independent/pair work. Explain that they will work on the remaining problems on the worksheet.
Time to Reflect: Cool-Down!
What was one challenging part of today's problems? How did you approach it?
Complete your Cool-Down Ticket to show what you learned!
Wrap up the activity. Ask students to share one thing they found challenging or a strategy they used. Then, introduce the cool-down ticket.
Worksheet
Fraction Challenge Worksheet
Name: _________________________
Instructions: Read each word problem carefully. Show all your work, including finding common denominators, and write your answer in simplest form.
Problem 1: The Baking Adventure
Maria is baking cookies and needs 3/4 cup of flour. She already has 1/2 cup. Her friend gave her an additional 1/8 cup. How much more flour does Maria need to reach her goal?
Problem 2: The Marathon Relay
A team is running a marathon relay. The first runner completes $ \frac{1}{3} $ of the race, and the second runner completes $ \frac{2}{9} $ of the race. If the third runner needs to complete the rest, what fraction of the race does the third runner run?
Problem 3: Garden Growth
Liam planted a sunflower that grew 5/6 of an inch in the first week and 3/4 of an inch in the second week. In the third week, a strong wind broke off 1/2 an inch of the stem. How much did the sunflower grow in total after three weeks?
Problem 4: Juice Mix-Up
Sarah made a punch for a party. She used 3/5 gallon of orange juice and 1/2 gallon of pineapple juice. During the party, guests drank 7/10 gallon of the punch. How much punch is left?
Problem 5: Ribbon Craft
David has a ribbon that is 7/8 yard long. He used 1/4 yard for one craft project and then 3/16 yard for another project. How much ribbon does David have left?
Answer Key
Fraction Challenge Answer Key
Problem 1: The Baking Adventure
Maria is baking cookies and needs $ \frac{3}{4} $ cup of flour. She already has $ \frac{1}{2} $ cup. Her friend gave her an additional $ \frac{1}{8} $ cup. How much more flour does Maria need to reach her goal?
Thought Process:
- Find out how much flour Maria has: She starts with $ \frac{1}{2} $ cup and gets $ \frac{1}{8} $ cup more.
- Find a common denominator for 2 and 8, which is 8.
- Convert $ \frac{1}{2} $ to $ \frac{4}{8} $.
- Add: $ \frac{4}{8} + \frac{1}{8} = \frac{5}{8} $ cup of flour.
- Find out how much more flour she needs: She needs $ \frac{3}{4} $ cup total and has $ \frac{5}{8} $ cup.
- Find a common denominator for 4 and 8, which is 8.
- Convert $ \frac{3}{4} $ to $ \frac{6}{8} $.
- Subtract: $ \frac{6}{8} - \frac{5}{8} = \frac{1}{8} $ cup.
Answer: Maria needs $ \frac{1}{8} $ cup more flour.
Problem 2: The Marathon Relay
A team is running a marathon relay. The first runner completes $ \frac{1}{3} $ of the race, and the second runner completes $ \frac{2}{9} $ of the race. If the third runner needs to complete the rest, what fraction of the race does the third runner run?
Thought Process:
- Find out how much of the race the first two runners completed together: Add the fractions completed by the first and second runners.
- Find a common denominator for 3 and 9, which is 9.
- Convert $ \frac{1}{3} $ to $ \frac{3}{9} $.
- Add: $ \frac{3}{9} + \frac{2}{9} = \frac{5}{9} $ of the race.
- Find out what fraction the third runner needs to complete: The whole race is 1 (or $ \frac{9}{9} $). Subtract the amount completed by the first two runners from the whole.
- Subtract: $ \frac{9}{9} - \frac{5}{9} = \frac{4}{9} $ of the race.
Answer: The third runner needs to complete $ \frac{4}{9} $ of the race.
Problem 3: Garden Growth
Liam planted a sunflower that grew $ \frac{5}{6} $ of an inch in the first week and $ \frac{3}{4} $ of an inch in the second week. In the third week, a strong wind broke off $ \frac{1}{2} $ an inch of the stem. How much did the sunflower grow in total after three weeks?
Thought Process:
- Find total growth in the first two weeks: Add growth from week 1 and week 2.
- Find a common denominator for 6 and 4, which is 12.
- Convert $ \frac{5}{6} $ to $ \frac{10}{12} $.
- Convert $ \frac{3}{4} $ to $ \frac{9}{12} $.
- Add: $ \frac{10}{12} + \frac{9}{12} = \frac{19}{12} $ inches.
- Subtract the amount broken off: From the total growth, subtract the $ \frac{1}{2} $ inch.
- Find a common denominator for 12 and 2, which is 12.
- Convert $ \frac{1}{2} $ to $ \frac{6}{12} $.
- Subtract: $ \frac{19}{12} - \frac{6}{12} = \frac{13}{12} $ inches.
Answer: The sunflower grew $ \frac{13}{12} $ or $ 1\frac{1}{12} $ inches in total.
Problem 4: Juice Mix-Up
Sarah made a punch for a party. She used $ \frac{3}{5} $ gallon of orange juice and $ \frac{1}{2} $ gallon of pineapple juice. During the party, guests drank $ \frac{7}{10} $ gallon of the punch. How much punch is left?
Thought Process:
- Find total amount of punch made: Add the orange and pineapple juice.
- Find a common denominator for 5 and 2, which is 10.
- Convert $ \frac{3}{5} $ to $ \frac{6}{10} $.
- Convert $ \frac{1}{2} $ to $ \frac{5}{10} $.
- Add: $ \frac{6}{10} + \frac{5}{10} = \frac{11}{10} $ gallons of punch.
- Subtract the amount drunk: From the total punch, subtract the $ \frac{7}{10} $ gallon.
- Subtract: $ \frac{11}{10} - \frac{7}{10} = \frac{4}{10} $ gallons.
- Simplify the answer: $ \frac{4}{10} $ simplifies to $ \frac{2}{5} $.
Answer: $ \frac{2}{5} $ gallon of punch is left.
Problem 5: Ribbon Craft
David has a ribbon that is $ \frac{7}{8} $ yard long. He used $ \frac{1}{4} $ yard for one craft project and then $ \frac{3}{16} $ yard for another project. How much ribbon does David have left?
Thought Process:
- Find the total amount of ribbon used: Add the amounts used for both projects.
- Find a common denominator for 4 and 16, which is 16.
- Convert $ \frac{1}{4} $ to $ \frac{4}{16} $.
- Add: $ \frac{4}{16} + \frac{3}{16} = \frac{7}{16} $ yard of ribbon used.
- Subtract the used ribbon from the total he had: Start with $ \frac{7}{8} $ yard and subtract $ \frac{7}{16} $ yard.
- Find a common denominator for 8 and 16, which is 16.
- Convert $ \frac{7}{8} $ to $ \frac{14}{16} $.
- Subtract: $ \frac{14}{16} - \frac{7}{16} = \frac{7}{16} $ yard.
Answer: David has $ \frac{7}{16} $ yard of ribbon left.
Cool Down
Cool-Down Ticket: Multi-Step Fraction Reflection
Name: _________________________
Instructions: Please answer the following questions to show what you learned today.
- Explain in your own words why finding a common denominator is so important when adding or subtracting fractions. (Think about what happens if you don't!)
- Describe one strategy you used today to help you solve a multi-step word problem with fractions.
-
Solve the following problem:
A recipe calls for $ \frac{2}{3} $ cup of milk. You only have $ \frac{1}{6} $ cup. Your neighbor gives you $ \frac{1}{2} $ cup. Do you have enough milk for the recipe? If so, how much extra do you have? If not, how much more do you need?