In my post Squashing Fraction Misconceptions, I talked about the advantage of building number lines with fraction bars. As an extension to that blog post, which you can find HERE, I wanted to share another fraction number line activity with you. This is a mental math strategy that makes students think critically and deepens student understanding of fractions on a number line.
According to the book, Developing Essential Understanding of Rational Numbers by NCTM, using number line models with only a few labeled points (such as 0 or 1) reinforces an understanding of relative values of numbers and elicits complex reasoning.
According to the book, Developing Essential Understanding of Rational Numbers by NCTM, using number line models with only a few labeled points (such as 0 or 1) reinforces an understanding of relative values of numbers and elicits complex reasoning.
With this said, consider having your students participate in a math activity that I call, Name That Point. This exercise calls for them to iterate or repeat the point out to the whole. This process helps students determine how many parts a line is divided into. Next students name the point. Additionally, students are expected to explain how they arrived at their answers.
Check out the example below:
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| Students should write their predictions first and then compare to the correct fraction. Was their prediction correct or incorrect? Were they close or far off? |
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| Extend the activity by adding in the skill of subtracting fractions to find the distance between the two estimated points. |
Get your copy of these FREE math worksheets HERE. This is a great strategy to use after students are successful with building fractions using number lines. I enjoy this exercise and hope you will try it with your class.
If you are looking for a helpful resource to teach fractions on number lines, check out my resource HERE.
