The ideas in this fraction lesson are taken from the Fractions 1 ebook sold on this website. Only a few examples of each problem type are shown; you should make more problems of each kind for the student.

 Adding and subtracting unlike fractions
Free lesson plan from HomeschoolMath.net

Can you add the following fractions?  Use pictures or some manipulatives to help you.   Discuss with your teacher. + = 1 3 + 1 2 = What fraction  would this be?        + = 1 3 + 1 4 = What fraction  would this be?

Did you solve the problems?  See what happens below: + + = 2 6 + 3 6 = 5 6        + + = 4 12 + 3 12 = 7 12 So what happened?  Discuss with your teacher and write an explanation below.

Example problem types

1.  Write the fractions below the pictures.  Add.  Color parts where needed.  

+ = + =     + = + =

+ = + =     + = + =

2.  Fill in the table based on the two examples above and the four problems in exercise 1. 

Now think.  How can we know to which kind of parts we need to convert the fractions we are adding?  Can you see any patterns or rules in the table?

3.  Change the fraction pictures by splitting the existing parts (both colored ones and white ones) so that both fractions have same kind of parts.  Underneath write the addition sentence.

4. If you think you know to which kind of parts to convert the fractions, try these problems.  In other words, try to convert the fractions so they have a common denominator. Write down the intermediate step, too.
Otherwise go to exercise 5 first.  

5.  This exercise is in the end of the lesson.  Complete it first before continuing on.  

6.  Subtract the fractions.  First convert them so that they have the same denominator.

 
7.  Add and subtract.  Write the intermediate steps in your notebook.  Write your answer as a mixed number if possible.  If you have three addends, the common denominator needs to be a common multiple of all three. 

5.  How do we find a common denominator?

a)  Use this exercise to check your understanding.  Find a common denominator (c.d) that will work for adding these fractions.  

b)  Add the fractions in the above exercise (write in your notebook).

Next lesson: adding mixed numbers

The ideas in this fraction lesson are taken from the Fractions 2 ebook sold on this website. Only a few examples of each problem type are shown; you should make more problems of each kind for the student.

Teaching Tips and Math Lessons menu