This document discusses using visual representations to teach fractions, including concrete objects like fraction discs and pictorial models. It recommends first building conceptual understanding before teaching procedural skills like computation. Key concepts covered include part-whole relationships, mixed numbers and improper fractions, multiplication and division of fractions using concrete examples, and word problems.

1. Teaching
Fractions
Using Visuals
Peggy Foo
Marshall Cavendish Institute

2. Theories
• Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract Approach
pedagogical model
• Enable students to visualize the concepts
• Build conceptual understanding before we
teach the skill of computation (procedural
understanding)

3. Fractions
• Represent a part-whole relationship
• Need to provide ample opportunities to make
sense of fractions using concrete, pictorial
representation so that they can understand the
abstract concept of fractions
• Concrete materials– real objects, fraction discs,
paper strips (folding)
• Pictorial representations– model bars
• Abstract - symbols and notions

4. Mixed Numbers and
Improper Fractions
• Watch a video

5. Multiplication of
Fractions (Concrete)
• Find the value of 1/2 x 2/3
• Find the value of ¾ x 2/3

6. Word Problem (Pictorial)
• Tom spent 2/5 of his money on a shirt and ½ of
the remainder on a pair of pants. What fraction
of his money had he left?

7. Division by a whole
number (concrete)
• Share ¾ of a cake equally among 4 persons
• What fraction of the cake does each person
get?

8. Question?
• Fraction ÷ Whole number = answer (smaller)
• Fraction ÷ Fraction = answer (bigger or smaller?)

9. Division by a fraction
(concrete)
• Andrea wants to share 2/3 tub of ice-cream
with his friends. She wants to give her friends
1/6 of a tub. How many friends can Andrea
share the ice-cream with?

10. Challenging Word
Problem

11. Summary
• Using visuals to teach fractions to enhance
conceptual understanding
• Concrete (fraction discs, stripes)
• Pictorial (bar model)
• Abstract (symbols and notions)