Lesson Plan
Fraction / Decimal Equivalents
Content Area/ Skill:
Mathematics and Numeracy Goal 1: Use mathematical knowledge and skills to solve
problems, communicate, and make decisions in everyday life.
Standard 1: Develop and apply number sense to solve a variety of real life problems and to
determine if the results are reasonable.
a) Recognize and utilize relationships between real life representations, number names, and
symbolic representations of numbers.
2 Match a fraction to a pictorial representation of halves, thirds, and fourths
Prerequisite(s) for
Activity Participation:
Knowledge of long division, value of money.
Activity Title:
Fraction / Decimal Equivalents
Goals/Objectives:
At the end of the lesson students will be able to better understand the corollary relationships
between common fractions, decimals, and everyday events/objects used in life.
Introduction to
Lesson:
Activities/Procedure
for Activity:
Explain the objective of the lesson to students. Explain that the lesson has three parts.
Part One
1. Begin discussion about quarters. Hold up one quarter to the class and ask what it is
worth. Ask a volunteer to come to board and write the value (.25)
2. Follow through in the same manner with remaining quarters (i.e. two quarters = .50, three
quarters = .75, etc.)
3. Ask another volunteer to come to the board to write a different way of naming quarters
(i.e. on quarter = one-fourth, two quarters = one-half, three quarters = three-fourths, etc.).
4. Ask students to plug in one-fourth in their calculators as 1 divided by 4. Ask them what
they get (.25). Continue calculator exercise with two-fourths, three-fourths, etc.
Part Two
1. Ask students to clear their desks except for one blank piece of paper and a
writing/coloring utensil. In front of class model these directions that you are giving them
verbally:
2. Fold the paper in half – you now have two halves, equaling one whole
3. Color or shade one-half of the paper
4. Fold the paper again in half
5. Open the paper and notice you now have divided it into four one-fourths
6. Notice that the side colored was one-half. Now it is still one-half, but also two onefourths, or two fourths.
7. Fold paper again
8. Open the paper and notice you now have divided it into eight one-eighths
9. Notice that the colored side is still one-half. It is also equal to 2/4, 4/8. These are all
equal.
Part Three
1. Discuss safety and use pre-corrects. Remind students to follow directions, use care in
* Erin Nugent / Angela Schultz
Lesson Plan
Fraction / Decimal Equivalents
handling knives, etc.
Separate students into groups of four.
Assign one student in each group to be the “cutter”.
Pass out twinkies and plastic knives.
In front of class, model these direction that you are giving them verbally:
Cut the loaf in half. Notice that you now have two halves. The loaf is the same as it was
before (no amount was added or subtracted). One whole = two halves.
7. Cut each of the halves in half. You have divided the loaf into four one-fourths. The loaf
is the same as it was before (no amount was added or subtracted). One whole = two
halves which is = to two one-fourths.
8. Let the students eat.
2.
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6.
Functional Application:
Materials/Texts/
Handouts:
Students will understand that money and fractions are one in the same.
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Four quarters
One dollar
Blank paper (one piece/student)
Pencil/pen/crayon/marker (one for every student in class)
Chalkboard / dry-erase board
Calculators (one for every student in class or per group of students)
Twinkies (one for every four students in class)
Plastic knife (one/group of four students)
Evaluation:
Students will see that two halves of a whole are equal parts.
Follow Up Lessons:
1. Teach students how to change decimals to fractions.
2. Teach students how to change fractions to decimals.
* Erin Nugent / Angela Schultz