Myths about teaching can hold you back
- Year 3
Identify when unit fractions cannot be compared
I can identify when unit fractions cannot be compared.
- Year 3
Identify when unit fractions cannot be compared
I can identify when unit fractions cannot be compared.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- If the whole is not the same, the fractions cannot be compared.
- If the parts of the whole are not equal, the fractions cannot be compared.
- Equal parts may not look the same.
Keywords
Whole - The whole is all of a group or number.
Part - A part is a section of the whole.
Denominator - A denominator is the bottom number in a fraction. It shows how many parts a whole has been divided into.
Unit fraction - A unit fraction is a fraction where the numerator is 1
Common misconception
Children might want to use inequality symbols between representations showing different wholes.
Explain that inequalities can only be used when the whole is the same. Provide them with examples they may be familiar with such as offering half of a large and small apple and identifying that these are not the same because the wholes differ.
To help you plan your year 3 maths lesson on: Identify when unit fractions cannot be compared, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 maths lesson on: Identify when unit fractions cannot be compared, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 maths lessons from the Compare and order unit fractions unit, dive into the full primary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which inequality symbol goes into the gap? 65 ___ 56
Q2.Which inequality symbol goes into the gap? 300 + 30 ___ 400 − 50
Q3.Which inequality symbol goes into the box to show which glass is more full?

Q4.Which of the following is the definition of a numerator?
Q5.What fraction of the whole is the shaded part in the image?

Q6.What fraction of the whole is the shaded part in the image?

Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.“Let’s have one-half of a cake each.” Does the image show a fair or unfair version of this statement?

Q2.“I’ve read one-half of a book and you’ve only read one-third so I have read more.” Does the image show a fair or unfair version of this statement?

Q3.Which proof shows one-quarter that is less than one-half?


Q4.What does this visual proof show?

Q5.What is special about the whole when comparing fractions using notation?
Q6.Which inequality symbol goes in between these two fractions?
