Year 5 Mathematics – Adding and Subtracting Like Fractions

ACMNA103 - Investigate strategies to solve problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions with the
same denominator

Topic

 Adding and subtracting fractions

Concept

 Representing the addition of fractions using familiar models can assist with visualisation of addition as the
joining of parts.

Lesson Sequence

Launch

 Write 4/5 on the whiteboard

 Ask “What is a fraction?” and discuss answers
o Part of a whole number, a decimal
 Revise the different parts of a fraction – Numerator & Denominator
o What is the number on the bottom of this fraction? What does it represent?
 SR: It is the number of equal parts that the whole number has been broken up in to
o What is the number on the top of this fraction? What does it represent?
 SR: The number of parts that you have/are using/are interested in etc.
 Ask students to draw a representation of ¾ in their books. Identify three students to show their examples to
the class and ask the following questions:
o Looking for: Students who have used different representations, ensuring they are equal parts.
o Ask the class – What do you notice in this example?
 Equal parts, number of shaded parts is the same as the numerator

Explore

 Write the sum “2/8 + 5/8 =” on the whiteboard and ask students to draw the solution in their books
 Select students to come to the front to share their examples
 Discuss the different approaches students may have used
 Write the sum “3/5 + 4/5 =” on the whiteboard
 Repeat the above steps. Select students who have made representations by drawing a second whole as they
are now using mixed numerals.

 Write the sum “8/9 – 5/9 =” on the whiteboard and ask students to draw the solution in their books
 Select students to come to the front to share their examples. Select students who have made
representations by crossing out shaded parts to identify the number of remaining parts.
 Discuss the different approaches students may have used
 Write the sum “7/4 – 3/4 =” on the whiteboard
 Repeat above steps

Extension

 ½ + ¾ = Students required to solve using their understanding that ½ = 2/4

Review

 Review what has been learned throughout the lesson.

o What did you do?
o What did you learn?
o How could you improve?