Learning Resources LER 2510 manual MakeEquivalenttwo equivalentFractionsfractions such as

MakeEquivalenttwo equivalentFractionsfractions such as

and with your fraction cubes. Ask students￿￿to observe and compare the height￿￿ of each fraction. Make another set of equivalent fractions and observe the heights. Challenge students to make another pair of equiva- lent fractions where the heights do not equal one another. (It’s impossible! Two fractions are equivalent only if they have the same height.)

Simplifyi plifyfractionsFractionsto their lowest terms by finding equivalent fractions. The equivalent fraction that uses the fewest number of same-color cubes is in lowest terms. Build a fraction with four blue cubes. Ask students to name the fraction. Then, challenge them to make equivalent fractions using as few cubes as possible. Students should discover that although four blue cubes can be rebuilt using two yellow cubes, the fewest number of cubes is one pink cube. Therefore, ￿￿ expressed in lowest terms is ￿￿ . UsingImpropertwo orFractionsmore sets of Fractionand MixedTowerNumbersCubes, students can build improper fractions such as and . Challenge students to build improper fractions using the￿￿ whole￿and proper® fractions. In essence, they are building an improper fraction from a mixed number. For example, can be built with seven yellow cubes or one red cube and three yellow￿￿ cubes. Reverse the activity by starting with an improper fraction and changing it to a mixed number.

Compareomparisonspairs of unit fractions such as and . Ask which is taller or

shorter. You may wish to have students write￿￿ a fraction￿￿sentence to show relationships ( > ). You can modify this activity by displaying a unit fraction cube and￿ then￿ asking students to find another unit fraction cube that is shorter or taller. Encourage students to use appropriate language and symbols when describing the relationship between the cubes.

Les concepts de fractions apparaissent dès que l’on assemble les petits cubes de la tour des fractions! La tour des fractions permet aux élèves d’apprendre les concepts fondamentaux des fractions et de leurs opérations. Elle leur permet aussi d’établir des relations entre des idées abstraites et des activités concrètes puisqu’ils peuvent voir, toucher et déplacer les différents petits cubes de la tour des fractions!

Le jeu de 51 petits cubes comprend : une unité rouge, deux demies roses, trois tiers orange, quatre quarts jaunes, cinq cinquièmes verts,