Investigating Fraction Relationships with Relationship Rods

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Investigating Fraction Relationships with Relationship Rods

In this lesson plan from Illuminations, students use relationship rods to explore fraction relationships. Relationship rods range in length from one to ten centimeters, and each rod is a different color. An activity sheet with solutions, questions for students, assessment options, and suggested extension activities are included. The lesson plan is part of a five lesson plan unit, Fun with Fractions, which is cataloged separately.

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(1 Comments)

Contributed by: NCTM Illuminations - Publisher, Tracy Y. Hargrove - Author

This resource is included in the following PD Collection(s):
Getting Off to a Good Start with FractionsThis collection is the first of a series that addresses the importance of helping students to construct a solid foundation for fractions. Unit fraction, equal shares, partitioning and iterating, identifying and making wholes are presented as appropriate concepts to begin instruction. Resources include several studies with recommendations for best practices and teaching strategies, as well as some virtual manipulatives to aid implementation. The collection also supports specialists and teachers as they explore ways to address common difficulties and misconceptions.

Math TopicNumber Sense, Fractions, Mathematical Practices, Mathematical Processes

Grade Level3, 4, 5, 6+

Resource TypeActivity, Lesson Plans

Additional Information
- AudienceEducator
- LanguageEnglish (USA)
- Education Topic
- Interdisciplinary Connection
- Professional DevelopmentNo
- ContributorNCTM Illuminations - Publisher, Tracy Y. Hargrove - Author
- Publication Date2012
- Rightscopyright (c) 2000-2012 National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
  http://illuminations.nctm.org/termsofuse.aspx
- AccessFree access
Standards
- Common Core State Standards for Mathematics
  Select a standards document:
- Standards for Mathematical Practice[K-12]
- Reason abstractly and quantitatively.[K-12]
- Model with mathematics.[K-12]
- Look for and make use of structure.[K-12]
- Number and Operations—Fractions[3 - 5]
- Develop understanding of fractions as numbers.[3]
- 1. Understand a fraction 1/b as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is partitioned into b equal parts; understand a fraction a/b as the quantity formed by a parts of size 1/b.[3]
- 3. Explain equivalence of fractions in special cases, and compare fractions by reasoning about their size.[3]
- a. Understand two fractions as equivalent (equal) if they are the same size, or the same point on a number line.[3]
- b. Recognize and generate simple equivalent fractions, e.g., 1/2 = 2/4, 4/6 = 2/3). Explain why the fractions are equivalent, e.g., by using a visual fraction model.[3]
- c. Express whole numbers as fractions, and recognize fractions that are equivalent to whole numbers. Examples: Express 3 in the form 3 = 3/1; recognize that 6/1 = 6; locate 4/4 and 1 at the same point of a number line diagram.[3]
- Build fractions from unit fractions by applying and extending previous understandings of operations on whole numbers.[4]
- 3. Understand a fraction a/b with a > 1 as a sum of fractions 1/b.[4]
- b. Decompose a fraction into a sum of fractions with the same denominator in more than one way, recording each decomposition by an equation. Justify decompositions, e.g., by using a visual fraction model. Examples: 3/8 = 1/8 + 1/8 + 1/8 ; 3/8 = 1/8 + 2/8 ; 2 1/8 = 1 + 1 + 1/8 = 8/8 + 8/8 + 1/8.[4]
Related Resources
- Fun with Fractions
User Comments
- Average
  5
  
  Great hands-on investigation
  By bethb on 02/19/2013 - 15:13
- This is a great hands-on investigation. I love how students not only make parts of a whole but also make mixed numbers depending on which rod equals a whole.

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Investigating Fraction Relationships with Relationship Rods

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics