5 kids with technology on grassy lawn

Phet - Math Fractions

Empowered Learner, Digital Citizen, Computational Thinker

Overview​

PhET provides fun, free, interactive, research-based simulations for math and science. The simulations are written in HTML5, and can be used online or downloaded to your computer. This is free for all students and teachers. There are hundreds of lesson plans and materials using the simulations. You can download and use as-is or remix them for your needs. This can be used for elementary, middle school, and high school.

Students will:

  • Be able to review fractions by using PhET.
  • Be able to match the fraction picture to the fraction.

Vocabulary Words:

  • Numerator: Numerator is the number above the line in a fraction that shows how many parts.

  • Denominator: Denominator is the number below the line in a fraction that shows the total number altogether.

To prepare for this lesson:
 

  1. Watch an overview video tutorial of PhET.
     

  2. Find the fraction examples you will use: Fractions intro and Fractions matching. (The examples are in alphabetical order. Scroll down until you see the fraction examples.)

  3. Have students join you on the carpet to go over the Fractions intro. You will then send students off on their own to work on these two games. 

See Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students.net site in the Teacher Resources. 

Directions for this activity:

  1. The teacher will pull up the Fractions Intro to show students how to use it.  
     
  2. Students will click on the link for the Fractions Intro. Students will create several different fractions. They will see how the picture matches the fraction. This will be a review for students.
     
  3. Next, they will click on Fraction Matcher. They will need to match up the fractions to the correct picture.

Different options for assessing the students:

  • Observations
  • Check for understanding
  • If students get an answer incorrect, it will alert them that it was wrong and they will get to try it again.

MITECS: Michigan adopted the "ISTE Standards for Students" called MITECS (Michigan Integrated Technology Competencies for Students) in 2018.

Empowered Learner
1c. Students use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practice and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.

Digital Citizen
2b. Students engage in positive, safe, legal and ethical behavior when using technology, including social interactions online or when using networked devices.

Computational Thinker
5a. Students formulate problem definitions suited for technology-assisted methods such as data analysis, abstract models and algorithmic thinking in exploring and finding solutions.
5c. Students break problems into component parts, extract key information, and develop descriptive models to understand complex systems or facilitate problem-solving.

 

Device: PC, Chromebook, Mac, iPad

Browser: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, ALL

App, Extension, or Add-on:

Websites:
Overview Video Tutorial of PhET

PhET Fraction Math Games

CONTENT AREA RESOURCES

Students will use visual fraction models, with attention to how the number and size of the parts differ. They will differentiate between whole, half, and fourth fractions.

Report a bad link, inappropriate content or out-of-date content. 

Credits
This task card was created by Dawn Phillips, Wyoming Public Schools, June 2020. Updated January 2022. 


Print this page