Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 4

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Identify and represent simple fractions
• Compare and order simple fractions
• Recognize fractions as parts of a whole and parts of a collection
• Solve simple word problems with fractions
• Explain numerator and denominator

Lesson summary

This week, we're diving into the exciting world of fractions! Fractions are not just numbers; they represent parts of a whole. Understanding fractions is incredibly important because we use them every day, often without even realizing it. From sharing a koeksister with a friend to measuring ingredients for a delicious malva pudding, fractions are all around us. In South Africa, where sharing and fair distribution are important values, understanding fractions helps us be equitable and precise. Knowing fractions also sets you up for success in more advanced math topics later on.

Lesson notes

What is a Fraction? A fraction represents a part of a whole or a part of a collection. It tells us how many equal parts of the whole we have. A fraction is written with two numbers separated by a line: The number on top is called the numerator. It tells us how many parts we have. The number on the bottom is called the denominator. It tells us how many equal parts the whole is divided into. For example, in the fraction 1/4 (one-quarter): The numerator is

1. The denominator is

4. This means we have one part out of a total of four equal parts.

Representing Fractions: We can represent fractions using diagrams, objects, or real-life situations.

Diagrams: We can draw a shape (like a circle, square, or rectangle) and divide it into equal parts. Then, we shade the number of parts indicated by the numerator.

Example: To represent 1/2, draw a circle, divide it into two equal parts, and shade one part.

Objects: We can use everyday objects like sweets, fruits, or pencils to represent fractions.

Example: If you have 5 apples and give 2 to your friend, you gave away 2/5 (two-fifths) of the apples. Comparing Fractions with the Same Denominator: When fractions have the same denominator, it's easy to compare them. The fraction with the larger numerator is the bigger fraction.

Example: Comparing 2/5 and 4/

5. Both fractions have a denominator of

5. Since 4 is greater than 2, 4/5 is bigger than 2/

5. We can write this as: 4/5 > 2/

5. Fractions as Part of a Collection: Fractions can also represent a part of a group of things. Imagine you have a bag of marbles.

Example: You have 10 marbles in a bag. 3 are blue, and 7 are red. The fraction of blue marbles is 3/10 (three-tenths), and the fraction of red marbles is 7/10 (seven-tenths).

Worked example

Example 1: Auntie Thandi buys a pizza and cuts it into 8 equal slices. She eats 3 slices. What fraction of the pizza did she eat?

Solution: The pizza is divided into 8 equal parts (denominator = 8). Auntie Thandi ate 3 slices (numerator = 3).

Therefore, she ate 3/8 of the pizza.

Example 2: Sipho has a packet of 12 biscuits. He gives half of the biscuits to his younger sister, Zanele. How many biscuits does Zanele get?

Solution: Half means 1/

2. We need to find 1/2 of

1

2. To do this, we divide 12 by 2: 12 ÷ 2 =

6. Zanele gets 6 biscuits.

Example 3: Fatima has a garden with 5 rows of vegetables. 2 rows are planted with spinach, and the rest are planted with cabbage. What fraction of the garden is planted with spinach?

Solution: The garden has 5 rows in total (denominator = 5). 2 rows are spinach (numerator = 2). So, 2/5 of the garden is planted with spinach.

Example 4: Compare the fractions 1/3 and 2/

3. Which fraction is larger?

Solution: Both fractions have the same denominator, which is

3. Compare the numerators: 1 and

2. Since 2 is greater than 1, 2/3 is larger than 1/

3.

Guided Practice (With Solutions)