Fractional Line Plots

One of the fifth grade standards (5.MD.B.2) asks students create line plots that display measurements in fractions of a unit.  I don’t know why, but students have a hard time interpreting information from line plots.  However with enough exposure and practice, they can become masters of this often difficult concept.

I looked online to find resources to help me teach this concept but found mostly task cards. While I love task cards and use them a lot, I really needed a resource that was all encompassing: pre-assessment, notes, practice pages and games, and finally a post assessment.

I created this resource myself and hope that others find it as helpful as I have.  You can find this resource by clicking here.

Slide01

After taking the pre-assessment, I guided my students through interpreting line plots using this fun and engaging interactive notebook,

20160313_215221

Students then practiced making line plots and creating their own questions using this trifold.  My kiddos loved making the this foldable because it stood up.  I couldn’t believe how something so simple could turn an otherwise routine practice opportunity exciting.

20160313_214831

Students also practiced creating their own line plot using the fractional line plot mat.  Each kiddo had the choice of using spinners or cards to collect their data.  They then recorded their results in a table, created a line plot, then wrote and answered their own question.  This helped my students to put context and meaning behind the numbers which was extremely powerful!

20160313_214955

Finally, it was time to give the post assessment.  My kiddos did great, and I am so happy that they have mastered what has historically been a challenging concept in the past.

Signature

Multiplying Fractions

I love teaching fractions.  I remember years ago when I would teach my students a jiggle to remember to the steps to multiplying fractions.  They would chorally sing the chant together and then solve the problem. What could be better, right? All my students got the answers correct and could do any problem I threw at them as long as they sang the song. However, after taking a life changing professional development workshop, I realized that my students didn’t understand the REASON behind the steps they were singing.  They couldn’t visualize what they were actually doing. WOW! ! !

Slide48

Teaching this concept using visuals can definitely be challenging.  My gifted learners often wonder why they need to draw a picture when they know how to solve the problem using the standard algorithm (often times in their heads).  I always explain that it is important to know WHY the steps work and to be able to PICTURE it in their minds.  This way when the problems become more complex, they will have a better understanding of what they are doing.

20151123_131307 I have been working on a unit that teachers could easily implement into their classroom to help students grasp these sometimes challenging concepts.    After months of working them, they are finally available!

You can grab each of these practice packs by clicking on the links below:

20151208_212950 Each unit includes

  • Pre and Post Assessments with Keys
  • Objective Poster
  • Interactive Notes and Foldables
  • Student Samples and Instructions
  • 3 Different Practice Pages and Games with Answer Keys

Slide36

  These practice packs are also available in a bundle. You click here to find it on TPT. Slide01

Signature

Long Division Strategies

Now that Common Core has changed the way we teach division, teachers are scrambling to find resources to teach repeated subtraction and the area model.  A lot of the resources out there are geared towards simple division problems consisting of one digit divisors.  Unfortunately, there are NOT many resources for teachers in the fourth and fifth grade.  Textbooks continue to cover only the standard algorithm, and we have been given no help to teach these new strategies.

This is why I created two different task card packages which can be utilized in so many ways.   Each pack includes a student directions page which provides step by step instructions and a model of how to use the strategy.

Slide03

In addition, a game board, rules card, and spinner are included so that you can quickly turn the task cards into a fun and engaging game!

Slide10 Slide09Area Model for Long Division

This is probably the hardest strategy to find resources for because it is the most difficult to teach.  In this pack, I included a task card answer key with the area model completed.  You could post the answer task cards around the room for students to self-check their answers.

Slide01

Repeated Subtraction for Long Division

Right now, there are a lot of repeated subtraction products for simple division problems available, but for fourth and fifth grade you have to use the strategy for long division with two digit divisors.   This is why I created this pack of task cards.

Slide06

As a long division strategy, it is the easiest one to understand; however, it is also the easiest to make mistakes.  A lot of problems have quotients of 25 or more.   This would be extremely time consuming which is why all of the quotients in my pack contain more manageable numbers.

You can find both of these task card packs by visiting here.  Task cards are absolutely wonderful, and  I hope you find these resources helpful!