Grade 3: Identify and Represent Fractions Using Visual Models - A Task
Rating: 
http://learnzillion.com/lesson_plans/305-identify-and-represent-fractions-using-visual-models
Common Core Standards
Content Standards
3.NF.A.1 Understand a fraction 1/b as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is partitioned into b equal parts; understand a fraction a/b as the quantity formed by a parts of size 1/b.
Standards for Mathematical Practice
MP.2 Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
Description of Lesson
This Grade 3 lesson titled, “Identify and Represent Fractions Using Visual Models” by LearnZillion is an intervention lesson plan for students needing help with unit fractions.In this lesson, students strengthen their understanding of fractions by focusing on fractions with a numerator other than one. Lesson activities include 3 sets of practice exercises that are differentiated based on the level of student understanding. The culminating task requires students to draw a visual model to demonstrate their knowledge of what a fraction is by dividing a shape into equal shares as a solution to an authentic scenario.
Cautions
Connecticut educators should be cautioned that prior to teaching the lesson, teachers thoroughly review the materials and make modifications or adjustments to meet the needs of their learners and to determine proper pacing. This particular LearnZillion lesson has not been translated into Spanish and could be further developed to accommodate students with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, interests and styles.
Rationale for Selection
This exemplary lesson targets the major work of the grade, providing an in-depth treatment of targeted content standards. The lesson develops students’ conceptual understanding through a real world task, brief exercises, questions, multiple representations and opportunities for students to write and speak about their understanding. The task stimulates students’ interest and elicits discourse and mathematical thinking. The lesson is responsive to varied student learning needs and includes “task debriefs” to help students summarize the “Big Ideas” of instruction. Three sets of practice exercises that are differentiated based on the level of student understanding can be downloaded. Supported lesson videos can be used by teachers to prepare before class, to enhance instruction during class, or to provide additional support to students at home before or after the classroom lesson. A formative assessment/exit ticket is included with success criteria. The Teaching Notes included with the plan provide clear and sufficient guidance to support teaching and learning of the targeted standards, including the use of technology. Lesson videos use and encourage precise and accurate mathematics, academic language, and concrete or abstract representations (e.g., pictures, symbols, models). Assessment answer keys provide sufficient guidance for interpreting student performance.
Supplementary Materials:
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