MULTIPLYING FRACTIONS BY WHOLE NUMBERS 1

MULTIPLYING FRACTIONS BY WHOLE NUMBERS unit plan revision

Stephanie Remy

Klassroom TeachAway
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MULTIPLYING FRACTIONS BY WHOLE NUMBERS

In this unit, students will learn how to multiply fractions by whole numbers. They will also learn
how to express fractions as a whole number.

To help students learn how to multiply fractions by whole numbers, the unit plan includes
several activities.

In rewriting the unit plan, I realized that I placed too little emphasis on reviewing foundational
concepts such as “what is a whole number” and making sure that the students have a solid
understanding on the difference between whole numbers and fractions. To that end, I’ve
incorporated the review of those concepts in the revision of my unit plan.

The first activity will introduce students to the concept of multiplying fractions by whole
numbers using the long division method. Students will work in pairs to complete an activity in
which they divide a given fraction by a known whole number and write the result as a decimal
fraction. Next, students will learn how to use multiplication to add and subtract fractions.
Students will work with a partner to identify the problem area on each pair of fraction cards and
follow the directions to complete the task. Finally, students will use multiplication to solve real-
world problems involving fractions. They will use their multiplication skills to measure the
height of different objects.

In addition to learning mathematics content, students will also develop critical thinking skills
through cooperative learning. Each activity is paired with a discussion that allows students to
share solutions and ask questions. Students will also be encouraged to think critically about the
task they are doing and persevere in solving the problems they are given.

Overall, this unit plan provides students with a comprehensive learning experience as they learn
to multiply fractions by whole numbers and express their answers as decimals.

In the first activity, students are given the opportunity to practice dividing fractions using long
division. This provides them with an important foundational skill that they will use throughout
the rest of the unit. As they are working, they are also developing their critical thinking and
problem-solving skills as they work through the problems together as a group. As the class
progresses through the various activities, they begin to learn new methods for solving fraction
problems. Students learn about different methods of adding and subtracting fractions which
provide them with different ways to approach similar types of problems in the future.

One of the other enhancements I’ve made in my lesson plan in the addition of more Required
Materials and Equipment such as laptops and flashcards which I did not have in my first draft of
the unit plan. In addition, when it comes evaluation, my original lesson plan was weak in
content to better evaluate the students. In my revision, I’ve added making sure that the students
are able to tell the difference between whole numbers and fractions and that they understand the
concepts of addition and Multiplication. The problem-solving activities provide students with an
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opportunity to apply their new skills to a real-world scenario where they can use the tools they
have learned in class.

Finally, the importance of Homework was completely missing from my original lesson plan, and
I was compelled to add the homework for independent practice so that the standard can be
solidified with the student. To conclude the unit, students will have completed a hands-on
review of their learning by doing final activities. The students then reflect on their experiences
with the unit and present their ideas back to the class. This unit will have provided the students
with the opportunity to apply what they learned about multiplying fractions to solve real-world
problems. The students now have a greater appreciation of the value of mathematics and the
skills they can apply to other situations in their lives.