Day 50: Fraction Stations

6th Grade Math Standards: 6.NS.1 Interpret and compute quotients of fractions, and solve word problems involving division of fractions by fractions, e.g., by using visual fraction models and equations to represent the problem. For example, create a story context for (2/3) ÷ (3/4) and use a visual fraction model to show the quotient; use the relationship between multiplication and division to explain that (2/3) ÷ (3/4) = 8/9 because 3/4 of 8/9 is 2/3. (In general, (a/b) ÷ (c/d) = ad/bc .) How much chocolate will each person get if 3 people share 1/2 lb of chocolate equally? How many 3/4-cup servings are in 2/3 of a cup of yogurt? How wide is a rectangular strip of land with length 3/4 mi and area 1/2 square mi?

The Learning Objective: Divide fractions to find a quotient; multiply fractions to find a product; find what fraction is between two other fractions

Quote of the Day: “What of the youth, the next generation of leaders? While many are forging tough paths and making a difference, others are engaged in passive entertainment-advocacy that requires little more than reposting or liking the website of a noble cause. The absence of hard work for young people can corrode their discipline, sense of responsibility, and self-worth. Meanwhile, in the developing world the extreme poverty rate has decreased from 52 percent in 1980, to 34 percent in 1999, to 21 percent in 2010 and it continues to fall. The people in this demographic have behaviors and mindsets that epitomize the rookie mode: unburdened by preconceived notions and eager to learn, whether from world-class experts via MOOCs (massive open online courses) or from improvising and innovating on shoestring budgets.” – Liz Wiseman

Question from Yesterday (as always from a student): "What is zero times zero?" "Why don't we take the reciprocal of the first fraction?" "Is there another way besides 'keep, change, reciprocal' to divide fractions?"

Assessment: Clickers

Agenda:

1. Quote, Star Student, Question
2. Clickers to determine what is between 2/4 and 3/4
3. Review the homework
4. Clickers to determine what is between 11/5 and 12/5
5. Stations: divide fractions, fractions and the number line, weekly quiz, marker boards, frayer model, and dividing fraction word problems 

Glass-Half Full: Stations gets students to move and is an excellent way to foster collaboration. One student was shocked when class was over. Time flew by and there was so much practice done. I also thought that by limiting the number of problems at each station it gave students a less overwhelming feeling than they would have had if a single worksheet with 18 problems was given.

Regrets: The issue of fractions and number lines needs to be its own lesson. A notes sheet should be designed with number lines to demonstrate and students need to recognize that there is a whole universe of numbers between any two fractions.

Link of the Day: A longer read (9 pages), but interesting take on how the minority of populations dictate decisions for the majority of populations.