Oakland Terrace Grade 1 Math Student Work

Fractions of Rods

Students use the Kidspiration program to model fractions of rods that correspond to Cuisenaire rods. They discover which shorter rods represent fractional values of longer rods. In first grade, the students are responsible for the unit fractions: 1/2, 1/3 and 1/4. Unit fractions have one as the numerator. Sometimes students struggle with the terms thirds and fourths. Students should be introduced to the notion that a fraction like 1/3 can also be stated as 1 out of 3. This activity can easily be extended. Students can explore other unit fractions such as 1/5, 1/8 and 1/9. They can also be introduced to fractional values such as 2/5, or 2 out of 5.

Using Cuisenaire rods for exploring fractional values helps the students develop the idea that a whole is simply what you define it to be. In the example above, seven different rods represent a whole. If students in the early years are only shown models such as circles, in which the whole is always fixed, their understanding of fractions becomes limited.

Download A Kidspiration File of this Fraction Activity. This file will only work in the Kidspiration Program.

$Online Cuisenaire Rods$ Online Cuisenaire Rods

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Indicators:
6.1.1.3 represent one-half, one-third, and one-fourth
in symbolic notation and pictures.

6.2.1.3 model common fractions.