
Teacher: That’s right, to find half of a number, we divide by 2.Let’s look at how we might teach estimating a sum with benchmarks, using the same fractions we compared: 5/8 + 2/5ġ) Before adding, ask students to estimate the answer by changing each fraction to a benchmark of 0, ½, or 1.Ģ) Estimating 5/8 prompts the question ‘how many 8ths would be in exactly half?’ (bulleted items are a sample discussion between teacher and student) When it comes to using fraction benchmarks in 5th and 6th grades and beyond, we might not be using them as much to teach comparing fractions but we can teach using benchmarks (and finding half) in the context of estimating answers for adding and subtracting fractions (and eventually for multiplying and dividing). Have you found this too? That may be something for another post!
#Benchmark fractions 4th grade how to
I have found, however, that some students don’t know how to find half of a number and even if they do know, they have trouble with half of an odd number. So, if 5/8 is more than half and 2/5 is less than half, that means 5/8 must be greater than 2/5.2.5/5 would be exactly half, and 2/5 is less than that.Hmm, 4/8 is half (benchmark) and 5/8 is more than that Benchmark Fraction Chart This is a simple visual for students to SEE where a fraction lies on a number line in relation to a Whole.When students are asked to compare fractions like 5/8 and 2/5, for example, the standard would like them to be able to look at 5/8 and think: Confidently prepare your students for Math TEK 4.3F (Benchmark Fractions) with an illustrated task card set that is fun, standard-focused, and thoughtfully differentiated. Let’s look at the 4th grade concept of using benchmarks to compare fractions. Estimate Sums & Differences w/ Benchmark Fractions 4th Grade Math TEK 4.3F.

So, if we can incorporate the reinforcement of benchmarks, estimating, and the understanding of ‘reasonable’ it will be a huge benefit to our middle school students. You can add a word bank to this activity if you’d like to push them to begin comparing the fractions in certain ways (e.g. I’m not sure if your experience is the same as mine, but over the years, I’ve observed that this understanding of whether or not answers make sense is definitely an area of weakness for students (not just in the area of fractions). Allow them to draw, write and/or use numbers to share their thinking about the different fractions they see.

including dividing by a fraction Module 3: Rational numbers Module 4: This. THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234. Using fraction benchmarks to estimate is a powerful way to help students understand whether or not their answers make sense. NYS Common Core ELA Curriculum 6:M1:U2:L2 June 2013 4 Grade 6.
