Lesson 2- Simplifying fractions

Before student can begin to fully understand the concept of how fractions can be simplified a picture of the process of simplifying the fraction will need to be created for the students. In lesson 2 the students will gain the understanding of how to create and identify equivalent fractions (simplify) using color tiles.

Introduction

This lesson builds on lesson 1 before introducing lesson 2 review how to create fractions. Simplifying fractions conceptually can be introduced by modeling the creation of fraction 4/8 using green and yellow color tiles.

Example:

=

Group 1 Group 2

Step 1: After creating

break the

colors into 2 equal groups. The colors cannot be mixed to create equal

groups. The first way that

can be

group is 2 groups of 4. Now the

fraction has changed from

to

. The

denominator is how many groups that were created and the numerator is how many groups are yellow.

Make a special note to the students that when creating new fractions (equivalent fractions) the role that the denominator plays is now how many groups there are in all and the numerator is how many groups are yellow. This will help the student connect this concept to what was previously learned in lesson 1.

Numerator is one group is yellow

Denominator is the total number groups that was created

Group 1 Group 2

Group 3 Group 4

numerator – 2 groups of yellow

=

denominator- 4 groups in all

Repeat this activity using the resource practice pages provided.

Step 2: The second way that

can be

created into a new fraction is to have 4 equal groups with 2 color tiles in each group. Two of the groups will yellow color tiles and the other 2 will have green color tiles.

*Remember do not mix the colors