Lessons on 4th Grade Fractions for Teachers and Parents

Fraction Lessons for 4th Graders

Circle Fractions

To teach 4th graders about equivalent fractions, it can help to incorporate visual aids. Break students into groups for this activity and provide each group with a large sheet of paper and a paper cup. Before beginning the activity, each group should use the paper cup to create at least 20 circles on the large piece of paper.

On the board, write a fraction, like 5/6. Then, ask your students to represent that fraction using one of their circles. They should divide the circle into six parts and color in five of them. Then, ask your students to create an equivalent fraction using another circle. Possible equivalent fractions include 10/12 or 25/30. Continue by adding more fractions to the board and having students create equivalent fractions using the circles.

If you plan to do this lesson at home, simply provide your child with a large sheet of paper and a cup to outline. Then, call out fractions for him or her to use. Customize the lesson to meet your child's individual needs by providing simple fractions, like 1/4, or mixed numbers, like 5 1/2.

Measure It!

This lesson allows students to practice measuring and adding fractions. Begin by having students go on a scavenger hunt around the classroom to collect and measure various objects. They should write the measurements down using fractions. For instance, a box of tissues might be 5 1/4 inches wide, and a pen might be 6 1/4 inches long.

Next, have your students add the various measurements together. For example, add the width of the box of tissues and the length of the pen together like this: 5 1/4 + 6 1/4. Students should turn the mixed number into an improper fraction by multiplying the denominator by the whole number (4 x 5 = 20) and adding the numerator (20 + 1 = 21). Then, put this result over the denominator from the mixed number (21/4).

Once you've also changed 6 1/4 to an improper fraction, the addition problem should look like this: 21/4 + 25/4 = 46/4. Remind your students to reduce the answer whenever possible. In this example, 46/4 reduces to 23/2.

This lesson can easily be done at home, as well. Have your child complete a scavenger hunt and measure each item that he or she collects. Then, your child can use the measurements to practice adding fractions.