Illustrative Mathematics
Drinking Juice, Variation 2
An excellent activity using word problems where pupils interpret and compute quotients of fractions. The commentary includes using a fraction bar model and equations to represent the problem. In this variation of the resource, the...
5280 Math
Decimal Patterns
Find patterns in the process instead of the result. Learners convert series of decimals and fractions identifying patterns along the way. The lesson includes nine problem tasks with progressively more involved patterns.
Illustrative Mathematics
Margie Buys Apples
One of the most common, everyday applications of math is dealing with money. This single problem calculating how much change Margie receives is more involved than it appears at first glance. An understanding of how fractions and decimals...
Illustrative Mathematics
Jim and Jesse's Money
Jim and Jesse started their road trip with the same amount of money. Your class must find the amount of money each one had given, the amount of money spent, and the ratio of money at the end. This is a comprehensive problem that takes...
Illustrative Mathematics
Running to School, Variation 3
How far is it between school and home? Here is a relatable activity where the participant runs to school a certain fraction of the way. That distance is given in miles. It is up to your learners to determine the distance between home and...
Illustrative Mathematics
Running to School, Variation 2
Rose's commute to school is a fractional distance. After she runs part of the way, your class needs to determine what fractional distance she ran. This problem explores fraction operations through modeling and computation. The...
101 Questions
Square Partitions
Challenge your classes while developing their problem-solving skills. A square is divided neatly into four equal triangles by its diagonals until one diagonal is moved from a vertex to the midpoint of one side. Now, scholars must devise...
Illustrative Mathematics
Equivalent Expressions?
Pre-algebra pupils need to understand that two expressions are only equal if they have the same value. Show them that once the expression is multiplied by a number, the value of the expression changes. It makes for a good lead-in to...
Illustrative Mathematics
Mixed Numbers with Unlike Denominators
There is more than one way to add mixed numbers. This worksheet asks 5th graders to find and record two ways. The purpose is to help pupils realize there are different ways to reach a common solution in math. The two most common ways are...
Curated OER
Drinking Juice
Pictures, number lines, decimal equivalents, or Cuisenaire rods can be used to show insight into the meaning of multiplying fractions.Here, Alisa drinks 3/4 of 1/2 liter of juice. To find the total volume of the juice that Alisa drank,...
Illustrative Mathematics
Salad Dressing
Aunt Barb's salad dressing is a mixture of oil, vinegar, salt, herbs, and a pinch of math. Fifth graders add the fractional measurements of ingredients to find a total amount. The fractions have unlike denominators. After finding the...
Curated OER
Connor and Makayla Discuss Multiplication
The commutative property of multiplication applies not only to whole numbers but to fractions as well. Connor and Makayla explore and discuss the idea that 2/3 x 3 is the same as 3 x 2/3. Your 5th grade class will connect with learning...
Illustrative Mathematics
Miles to Kilometers
Can your mathematicians come up with an easy way to convert miles to kilometers? Start by asking learners to write an algebraic expression for each of the descriptions given. Once they determine that they are both the same, ask...
Curated OER
Jelly Beans for Sale
Students connect literature (story Jelly Beans for Sale by Bruce McMillan) to math concepts. In these estimating and money lessons, students work with jelly beans, unifix cubes, pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters, to estimate and make...
Illustrative Mathematics
Running to School
The object of this activity is to compute how far Rosa ran to school. Given in the exercise is the fractional number of miles between home and school and the fractional distance Rosa ran. The commentary shows several ways to have your...
Illustrative Mathematics
Plastic Building Blocks
Let's build a castle! Dennis and Cody have big plans, but do they have enough blocks between the two of them to accomplish their goal? A great context that requires students to add and compare mixed numbers. Encourage the use of pictures...
Illustrative Mathematics
Ratio of Boys to Girls
How many boys are in the class? Here is an introductory exercise describing ratios. The commentary shows different ways learners can approach the problem, using a tape diagram of boys to girls and using a table. The activity includes...
Illustrative Mathematics
Fruit Salad
Playing with values in this fruit salad problem allows learners to find out how many cherries were mixed in. Your middle schoolers can organize their thoughts in a chart before going into the equation. Eigth graders can skip the chart...
Illustrative Mathematics
Drinking Juice, Variation 3
It is up to the learner to find the amount of juice originally in a bottle, knowing what fraction of the juice is left, and the amount that has been consumed. The accompanying commentary provides a useful and detailed description of...
Illustrative Mathematics
Voting for Two, Variation 1
The votes are in and your mathematicians are going to calculate how many votes each candidate received. Three different solution choices are given, depending on which method is taught. Have your learners set up a table, compute parts, or...
Illustrative Mathematics
Origami Stars
This one problem concentrates on the important concept of dividing a whole number by a unit fraction. Here, young mathematicians use pictures they draw to help answer this problem. Insight into the connection between multiplication and...
Illustrative Mathematics
Voting for Two, Variation 2
John won the election, but by how much more? Your learners will calculate how many votes each candidate received in order to determine the difference. Use with other lessons provided in the series to practice different variations of this...