The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Representing and Adding Fractions with 3D Designs

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Representing and Adding Fractions with 3D Designs

A 5th grade STEM lesson

Cristina Rapeta

July 10, 2023

Notes for teachers

Lesson will require access to Tinkercad.com. It is free for educators and you can add students by sharing a code with them or manually adding them.

Tinkercad website

Tinkercad tutorial

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You do not need access to a 3D printer with this activity.

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Although using a mousepad on a chromebook works fine, it is challenging. Using a mouse makes it easier to manipulate the shapes and lines.

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Initially, students might struggle with building on Tinkercad. It is helpful to allow them a few minutes to explore the tools available and how to rotate shapes/designs. This can be done a day before as well.

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List of Materials

• Chromebooks or ipads
• Fraction cards (link to free Teachers Pay Teachers fraction cards)
• Whiteboards or paper to solve problem

Optional:

Fraction visuals (bars, circles, etc)

Science and Engineering Practices

● develop and use models

● construct explanations and design solutions

● engage in argument from evidence

● obtain, evaluate, and communicate information

● develop a diagram or simple physical prototype to convey a proposed object, tool or process

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Arizona Math Standards

5.NF.A.1 Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators (including mixed numbers) by replacing given fractions with equivalent fractions in such a way as to produce an equivalent sum or difference of fractions with like denominators (e.g., 2/3 + 5/4 = 8/12 + 15/12 = 23/12).

Objectives:

Today students will apply knowledge of fractions to create a representation of a fraction.

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Today students will find the sum of two fractions with unlike denominators.

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Today students will complete a 3D design on Tinkercad.

Agenda (45 minutes)

• Teacher will review adding fractions Video
• Teacher will pass out a fraction card to each student
• Students will create an object that represents their fraction on Tinkercad-see examples to the right
• Students will partner up, share their fraction and image, then find the sum of the fractions.
• If time permits, students can then team up with a different partner and add up the new fractions.
• Reflection: on a post it, then share out responses.

Review: Adding Fractions

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You will receive a card with a fraction on it. Take a moment to visualize what that fraction could look like.

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Activity

Individually, you will create a representation of your assigned fraction on Tinkercad.

Once you have completed your task on Tinkercad, you will team up with another student and find the sum of the two fractions.

Criteria:

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• Must accurately represent fraction
• Fraction must be labeled

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Constraints:

• 20 minutes to create on Tinkercad
• No other materials can be used
• Fraction image must be created, not imported into Tinkercad

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Reflection:

On a post it note, answer the following question:

What was the biggest challenge in creating your fraction?

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Be ready to share!

Differentiation

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For struggling students, you may:

• increase work time
• provide visuals of fractions
• be intentional when partnering up

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Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

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• Students can subtract the lesser fraction from the greater one
• Students can create and illustrate a fraction story problem
• Students can use Tinkercad to demonstrate how two unlike fractions are equivalent