Lesson 7

Generalize Fraction Multiplication

Lesson Purpose

The purpose of this lesson is to generalize strategies for calculating products of fractions.

Lesson Narrative

In this lesson, students find areas of rectangles where the subdivision of each side into unit fractions is not shown. They rely on their understanding of covering the area with appropriate size fractional pieces, understanding that the numerator of the area is the number of those pieces while the denominator is the number of those pieces in 1 square unit. Then students work abstractly with fractions, finding missing values in equations showing products of fractions with no reference to area. 

  • Engagement
  • MLR8

Learning Goals

Teacher Facing

  • Generalize to find the product of any 2 fractions.

Student Facing

  • Let’s use what we’ve learned to multiply any fractions.

Required Preparation

CCSS Standards

Addressing

Lesson Timeline

Warm-up 10 min
Activity 1 20 min
Activity 2 15 min
Lesson Synthesis 10 min
Cool-down 5 min

Teacher Reflection Questions

As students described how Diego’s diagram represented the expression \(\frac{9}{11} \times \frac{5}{8}\), what evidence did you see that they are extending their understanding of multiplication as area? 

Suggested Centers

  • Rolling for Fractions (3–5), Stage 4: Multiply Fractions (Addressing)
  • How Close? (1–5), Stage 7: Multiply Fractions and Whole Numbers to 5 (Supporting)

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Additional Resources

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