Finding Fractions of a Set

Third Grade Math

by Dee Mulhern August 6, 2015

This lesson will surely stick after students take part in an activity where they determine fractions of a set using
colorful craft sticks.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to identify fractions within a set.

Materials and preparation Key terms

Fractions of a Set: Spring Things Worksheet numerator

15 clear bags labeled with numbers 1 to 15 denominator
Colorful craft sticks or other small colorful set
objects to be placed in random amounts and fractions
combinations in each bag.
Notebook
Whiteboard and marker for each student

Attachments

Fractions of a Set: Spring Things (PDF)

Introduction (10 minutes)

Review with students what they know about fractions. Review numerator, the number on top of the
fraction, denominator, the number on the bottom of the fraction that represents the total of the set, or
the group of values being observed.
Tell students that today they will learn about fractions, or specific portions, of a set. Explain that
fractions from a set are similar to the fractions they have already learned. The main difference is that we
can think of the set as a whole and each item that makes up the set as an equal part.
Call several volunteers up to the front of the group. Explain to the students that the group of volunteers
together is the whole. Count each student and label the total as the denominator. Each person in the
group is a part. Model finding and writing the different types of fractions that can be found in the set. For
example, the fraction of boys, the fraction of girls, fraction of students wearing glasses, etc.

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling (10 minutes)

Tell students that today they will practice finding fractions of a set using different colored craft sticks.
Model pulling out a mixed set of craft sticks from the bag labeled "number 1" that was prepared ahead of
time.
Model counting how many sticks there are total. Label this as the denominator. Model counting the sticks
of each color and labeling the corresponding fraction.
Repeat using the next clear bag labeled "number 2" as an example. Have students record the fractions in
their notebooks, making sure to label each fraction by color.

Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/

Guided Practice (20 minutes)

Have students pair up to work in teams. Give each team a clear bag labeled "number 3" to "number 15."
Tell students to label their notebook pages 3-15 to correspond with the fractions for each bag.
Have students work together to determine the fractions for each set in the bags and label them in their
notebooks.
Have students switch bags every few minutes to complete as many sets as time allows.

Independent working time (10 minutes)

Distribute Fractions of a Set: Spring Things worksheet. Have students complete the worksheet
independently after going over the example.

Differentiation

Enrichment: For students in need of a challenge, encourage students to create a unique set of their own
by drawing a picture. Have the student write the fractions that correspond to the set.
Support: For students in need of support, reduce the size of the set or colors in each set.

Assessment (15 minutes)

Circulate as students work in pairs determining different fractions. Ask questions of the students to
determine their level of understanding.
Collect the independent practice worksheets at the end of the lesson to review for mastery.

Review and closing (10 minutes)

Gather students together to discuss the activity.

Ask students to describe how they determined how many sticks were in the whole group. Ask students if
they see a relationship between the numerators and the total number for the group.
Show a final set of sticks and have students write the correct fraction on whiteboards and hold up their
answers for a quick visual assessment.

Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/

 Spring Things
Missouri FUN Page!
Fractions Of A Set: Let’s practice writing
fractions!

Please look at the example

then complete the

WORD SEARCH
Example: rest of the worksheet.

Here is a set of 3 Easter eggs.

Can you find the words from the list below?
How They might eggs
many Easter horizontal, vertical or backward.
are yellow?
1 out of a total of 3 eggs are yellow. We can write this as a fraction: 1/3
HowA many 2/3
F SEaster
Y O eggsR are
R white?
J X Y O T M B P H

N E T J O B F O T X V O X U A E

S Mis La set
Here L of
B 7Djelly
P beans.
I X H K T D E I S

M Hmany
How O Njelly
A beans
I U are
Q blue?
N O G L A Y S J

O Xmany
U Hare
H white?
A W T H O R N E G W M
How Unscramble
Z G I Y H S N A E B Y O S K N X the letters to make
A Q S M I S S O U R I W A L T Zbunnies the capital of Missouri:
How many bunnies are there in all?
R N B C O H Q T R W M A A A I Y N O F R J E S E F
How many are white?
K V L K B Q B E S G M U L E D F T Y C I
How many are purple?
S O L A K E W A P P A P E L L O
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Hawthorn
_ _ _ _
How many chicks are there in all?
St. Louis
ANSWER: JEFFERSON CIT Y

How many are white?

Soy Beans Color the
Ozarks
How many are green?
Missouri State Flag:
Lake Wappapello
How many are orange?
Algonquian
Missouri Waltz
Mule QUIZ
What
How many tulips are there in all? is Missouri’s
nickname?
How many are pink?
PThe Look There State
How many are yellow? PThe See This State
PThe Show Me State
How many do not have leaves? THE SHOW ME STATE
Color key:
ANSWER:
How many have leaves?

Copyright ©2011-2012
2010-2011 by
by Education.com
Education.com More worksheets at www.education.com/worksheets
 Spring Things
Missouri FUN Page!
Fractions Of A Set: Let’s practice writing
fractions!

Please look at the example

then complete the

WORD SEARCH
Example: rest of the worksheet.

Here is a set of 3 Easter eggs.

Can you find the words from the list below?
How They might eggs
many Easter horizontal, vertical or backward.
are yellow?
1 out of a total of 3 eggs are yellow. We can write this as a fraction: 1/3
HowA many
2/3
F SEaster
Y O eggsR are
R white?
J X Y O T M B P H

N E T J O B F O T X V O X U A E

S Mis La set
Here L of
B 7Djelly
P beans.
I X H K T D E I S

M Hmany
How O Njelly
A beans
I U are N O G L A Y 4/7
Q blue? S J

O Xmany
U Hare A W T H O R N E3/7
H white? G W M
How Unscramble
Z G I Y H S N A E B Y O S K N X the letters to make
A Q S M I S S O U R I W A L 4 T Zbunnies the capital of Missouri:
How many bunnies are there in all?
R N B C O H Q T R W M A A A I
3/4 Y N O F R J E S E F
How many are white?
K V L K B Q B E S G M U L E D
1/4
F T Y C I
How many are purple?
S O L A K E W A P P A P E L L O
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Hawthorn 6 chicks _ _ _ _
How many chicks are there in all?
St. Louis
ANSWER: JEFFERSON CIT Y

3/6
How many are white?
Soy Beans Color the
Ozarks
How many are green? 1/6 Missouri State Flag:
Lake Wappapello 2/6
How many are orange?
Algonquian
Missouri Waltz
Mule QUIZ
What
How many tulips are there in 10 tulips
all? is Missouri’s
nickname?
6/10
How many are pink?
PThe Look There State
4/10
How many are yellow? PThe See This State
PThe Show Me State
How many do not have leaves? 3/10 Color key:
THE SHOW ME STATE

7/10
ANSWER:
How many have leaves?

Copyright ©2011-2012
2010-2011 by
by Education.com
Education.com More worksheets at www.education.com/worksheets