4th Grade Mathematics — Fractions and Decimals — Parts of God's Whole
Students will learn that the same amount can be represented by different fractions and how to find equivalent fractions.
Equivalent fractions are fractions that look different but represent the same amount. For example, 1/2 and 2/4 are equivalent fractions — they both mean 'half.' If you cut a sandwich in half, you get 2 pieces. If you cut it into fourths, 2 of those 4 pieces equal the same half.
To find an equivalent fraction, you multiply or divide both the numerator and the denominator by the same number. For example: 1/3 × 2/2 = 2/6. Both 1/3 and 2/6 represent the same part of a whole.
You can also simplify fractions by dividing both numbers by a common factor. For example, 4/8 can be simplified: divide both 4 and 8 by 4, and you get 1/2. Simplifying means finding the simplest way to write a fraction.
God values accuracy and honesty, as Proverbs 11:1 tells us. Understanding equivalent fractions helps us be accurate in measuring, cooking, building, and sharing. Whether we say 1/2 or 3/6, we must know they mean the same thing to be truthful and precise.
Use fraction strips or draw fraction bars to show that 1/2 = 2/4 = 3/6 = 4/8. Then find three equivalent fractions for 1/3 and three for 2/5. Write each set of equivalent fractions on a poster.