Unit 3, Lesson 12
Represent Division of Unit Fractions by Whole Numbers
Grade 5
Preparation
Lesson Narrative
In the previous lesson, students solved problems about dividing a unit fraction by a whole number in a way that made sense to them. In this lesson, students use tape diagrams to represent division of a unit fraction by a whole number. The tape diagrams used to represent the problems are familiar to students from earlier grades. Here is a tape diagram showing , one out of 4 pieces is shaded:
One way to show is to divide the into 3 equal pieces.
To see how much is shaded we can divide all of the s and see that .
Students use these diagrams to understand this series of steps representing division of a unit fraction by a whole number throughout the lesson.
- Engagement
None
- Critique (orally and in writing) a strategy used to divide a unit fraction by a whole number and the explanation of that strategy.
- Use diagrams to generalize (orally and in writing) that $\frac{1}{B}\div C = \frac{1}{B} \times \frac{1}{C}$.
- Let’s use diagrams to represent division of a unit fraction by a whole number.
Required Preparation
None
Teacher Reflection Questions
What did you say, do, or ask during the Lesson Synthesis that helped students be clear on the learning of the day? How did understanding the cool-down of the lesson before you started teaching today help you synthesize that learning?