Fraction Multiplication
Activity Author
Lubna Naseem
Duration
40mins
Objective: Key Core Life Skill to be developed
Problem Solving
Objective: Key Learning Domains to be developed
Remember, Understand, Application
Implemented this in classroom
Yes
Objectives to be achieved
Objective 1: Make the students understand how fractions are made out of one whole unitsObjective 2: By making them do this activity in class, students will learn to observe and apply the concept in other real life situations. This will make it easy for them to grasp the concept.
Underlying Concept behind this activity
The activity will explain them how multiplication happens in fractions!
Resources required for conducting the activity
Colored paper strips Sketch pens and Scissors scale
Class Activity Details
Step 1: Begin the class by asking them to take one of the colored strip and write 1 whole.
Step 2: Ask them to take the second strip and make two equal parts of that whole strip.
- Children will obviously make a folds fold to make it into half. Write on two parts each 1/2.
The process which happened here was divide 1 whole strip into two parts. Therefore we write 1/2 and 1/2
- Now ask them to another fresh strip and break into 4 equal parts by folding. Once they have done that ask them to repeat the process-
- First they make 1/2 of 1 whole then they make 1/2 of 1/2 which ends up giving them 4 parts of 1.
Another way of writing the same can be 1/2 * 1/2 = 1/4
- Similarly make them create 8 & 16 sections in the other strips and write 1/4, 1/8 and 1/16 respectively.
- Now again ask them what did they do. So they will say they made 1/2 of 1/4 which gave them 8 parts of whole
1/2 of 1/8 which gave them 16 parts of whole.
The other way of writing this:
1/2*1/8=1/16
Step 3: Once this activity is over you can give them various exercises to understand the concept better. A links have been given in this activity itself.

Above image shows how 1 whole can be broken into 16 equal parts
Practice worksheets
http://www.commoncoresheets.com/Math/Fractions/Multiplying%20Unit%20Fractions%20with%20Numberline/English/2.pdf
http://www.commoncoresheets.com/Math/Fractions/Multiplying%20Fractions%20and%20Whole%20Numbers/English/3.pdf
http://www.commoncoresheets.com/Math/Fractions/Multiplying%20Fractions%20(Word)/English/4.pdf
Uploaded File
Brainstorming questions asked in class
Once the actiivity is over or during the activity, as a teacher you can ask: what are the children observing with the multiple folds.
How are the number of creases increasing...Is there are series or pattern they are observing in this exercise.
Evaluation parameters to assess the understanding of the students
Accurate, Knowledgeable, Efficient, Methodical, Precise
Impromptu changes made if any during activity, reasons
Any suggestions for other teachers while implementing this activity in classroom.
The objective of introducing this concept with activity is to involve children will in doing it themselves multiple times they will get to understand the concept of fractions and how they are derived as well how various arithmetic operations can be applied to them.