Lesson 12

Equivalent Fractions on a Number Line

Lesson Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is for students to use the number line to determine whether fractions are equivalent.

Lesson Narrative

In previous lessons, students learned that two fractions are equivalent if they are the same size. In this lesson, students work with situations that involve lengths to build their understanding that fractions at the same location on a number line are equivalent. Number lines are provided to ensure that if students choose to use two number lines to demonstrate equivalence, they work with the same length interval for 1 unit.

  • Engagement
  • MLR8

Activity 2: Locate and Pair

Learning Goals

Teacher Facing

  • Identify and generate equivalent fractions.
  • Understand two fractions as equivalent if they are at the same point on a number line.

Student Facing

  • Let’s find fractions at the same location.

Required Materials

Materials to Gather

Required Preparation

Activity 3:

  • Each group of 2 needs 6 number cubes.

CCSS Standards

Addressing

Building Towards

Lesson Timeline

Warm-up 10 min
Activity 1 10 min
Activity 2 10 min
Activity 3 15 min
Lesson Synthesis 10 min
Cool-down 5 min

Teacher Reflection Questions

In this lesson, students use number lines to show that fractions are equivalent. How did their previous work with diagrams and fraction strips prepare them to do this?

Suggested Centers

  • Number Line Scoot (2–3), Stage 3: Halves, Thirds, Fourths, Sixths and Eighths (Addressing)
  • Secret Fraction (3), Stage 1: Building Non-Unit Fractions (Addressing)

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Additional Resources

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