Teacher Note's Unit 5

Multiplying Whole Numbers by Fractions in Context

Students will be able to: Apply what they have learned in the preceding lessons in order to solve story problems involving fractions and whole numbers.

Standard:

5.NF.6. Solve real world problems involving multiplication of fractions and mixed numbers, e.g., by using visual fraction models or equations to represent the problem.

Materials:

Journals, Word Problems- Whole Numbers Times a Fraction worksheet

Engagement:

• Have the students take out their journals. Tell them you are going to read a problem to them and they need to solve this problem in their journals.

Read the following:

• Mandy eats Pizza every Friday for lunch. How much pizza does she eat in 3 weeks of school?

Some students will seem confused and feel this is very easy. The answer is 3 pizzas.

Ask the students some questions:

1. Do you feel you have enough information to solve the problem?

2. How would you answer change if you heard that Mandy only eats 1/4 of the pizza every Friday?

Guided Practice:

Distribute the Word Problems-Whole Numbers Times a Fraction worksheet to every student. Have the students work together sharing their ideas to show their solutions. Encourage pictures and equations. Record their ideas to serve as a model for problems during the lesson activity.

Lesson Activity:

Have the students work together to solve the second problem on the worksheet. They should use the model from above as a guide for how to show their answers. Have a whole group discussion about the answer and encourage students to share their strategies.