Use representations to describe and compare two fractions in a continuous context

I can use representations to describe and compare fractions in a continuous context.

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Lesson 3 of 15

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Year 5

Use representations to describe and compare two fractions in a continuous context

I can use representations to describe and compare fractions in a continuous context.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

Number lines and scales represent fractions in a continuous context.
The whole has been divided into __ equal parts and the line shows __ of them.

Keywords

Continuous - Continuous means that every position on the line or scale has a value.
Equal - Equal means that something has exactly the same amount or value.

Common misconception

Children need to understand that fractions can also be fractions of 1 and have an exact position on a number line. There may be confusion over labelling an exact point rather than a part of the line.

Use the language of labelling a point on the line and avoid talking about 'half of the line' which is the language of parts of a whole. This helps children to see that fractions are numbers in their own right with a unique position on a number line.

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The slides model the activities which children should engage with practically. Water, sand or rice can be used to fill parallel sided containers. The printable number lines in the practice tasks allow children to engage with the estimating and comparison of the positions of the fractions.

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).