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Created 7/7/19. Updates available online.

Fractions: Intro

Fractions: Intro Screenshot
  • Fractions
  • Equivalent Fractions
  • Improper Fraction
Java Logo Original Sim and Translations

Topics

  • Fractions
  • Equivalent Fractions
  • Improper Fraction
  • Number Line

Description

Explore fractions while you help yourself to 1/3 of a chocolate cake and wash it down with 1/2 a glass of water! Create your own fractions using fun interactive objects. Match shapes and numbers to earn stars in the fractions game. Challenge yourself on any level you like. Try to collect lots of stars!

Sample Learning Goals

  • Predict and explain how changing the numerator of a fraction affects the fraction's value
  • Predict and explain how changing the denominator of a fraction affects the fraction's value
  • Convert between a picture of a fraction, a numeric fraction, and a point on a number line
  • Build matching fractions using numbers and pictures
  • Compare fractions using numbers and patterns

Standards Alignment

Common Core - Math

1.G.A.3
Partition circles and rectangles into two and four equal shares, describe the shares using the words halves, fourths, and quarters, and use the phrases half of, fourth of, and quarter of. Describe the whole as two of, or four of the shares. Understand for these examples that decomposing into more equal shares creates smaller shares.
 2.G.A.3
Partition circles and rectangles into two, three, or four equal shares, describe the shares using the words halves, thirds, half of, a third of, etc., and describe the whole as two halves, three thirds, four fourths. Recognize that equal shares of identical wholes need not have the same shape.
 3.G.A.2
Partition shapes into parts with equal areas. Express the area of each part as a unit fraction of the whole. For example, partition a shape into 4 parts with equal area, and describe the area of each part as 1/4 of the area of the shape.
 3.NF.A.1
Understand a fraction 1/b as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is partitioned into b equal parts; understand a fraction a/b as the quantity formed by a parts of size 1/b.
 3.NF.A.2
Understand a fraction as a number on the number line; represent fractions on a number line diagram.
 3.NF.A.2a
Represent a fraction 1/b on a number line diagram by defining the interval from 0 to 1 as the whole and partitioning it into b equal parts. Recognize that each part has size 1/b and that the endpoint of the part based at 0 locates the number 1/b on the number line.
 3.NF.A.2b
Represent a fraction a/b on a number line diagram by marking off a lengths 1/b from 0. Recognize that the resulting interval has size a/b and that its endpoint locates the number a/b on the number line.
Version 1.0.4

Teacher Tips

Download teacher tips PDF Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ).

Teacher-Submitted Activities

Title Gold Star Contribution Contribution by PhET Authors Level Type Subject
What is a Fraction? A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Anonymous K-5 Other Mathematics
Comparing and Ordering Fractins Day 2 of 3 A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Meaghan Hixson K-5 Guided Mathematics
What is a Fraction? Day 1 of 3 A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Meaghan Hixson K-5 Guided Mathematics
Building Fraction Sense Using “Fractions Intro PhET Simulation” A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Philippe Guegan K-5
MS		 Guided
Discuss		 Mathematics
Equivalent Fractions Day 3 of 3 A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Meaghan Hixson K-5 Guided Mathematics
Fractions 3 Day Unit A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Meaghan Hixson K-5 Guided Mathematics
How do PhET simulations fit in my middle school program? This contribution was designed by PhET. Sarah Borenstein MS Other Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Earth Science
Alignment of PhET sims with NGSS This contribution was designed by PhET. Trish Loeblein HS Other Earth Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Naming Fractions Bettie Parker K-5 Demo
Guided
Lab
HW
Discuss		 Mathematics
분수 소개 SIM 사용설명서 이화국(Wha Kuk Lee) MS Demo
HW		 Mathematics

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The new HTML5 sims can run on iPads and Chromebooks, as well as PC, Mac, and Linux systems.

iPad:
iOS 11+ Safari
iPad compatible sims

Android:
Not officially supported. If you are using the HTML5 sims on Android, we recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome.

Chromebook:
Latest version of Google Chrome
The HTML5 and Flash PhET sims are supported on all Chromebooks.
Chromebook compatible sims

Windows Systems:
Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11, latest version of Firefox, latest version of Google Chrome.

Macintosh Systems:
macOS 10.9.5+, Safari 9+, latest version of Chrome.

Linux Systems:
Not officially supported. Please contact phethelp@colorado.edu with troubleshooting issues.

Design Team Third-party Libraries Thanks To
  • Ariel Paul (lead designer)
  • Jonathan Olson (lead developer)
  • Sam Reid (original developer)
  • Martin Veillette (developer)
  • Michael Dubson
  • Trish Loeblein
  • Amanda McGarry
  • Kathy Perkins
  • Vincent Davis
  • Michael Moorer
  • Dusty Cole
  • almond-0.2.9.js
  • base64-js-1.2.0.js
  • easing-equations-r12
  • FileSaver-b8054a2.js
  • font-awesome-4.5.0
  • game-up-camera-1.0.0.js
  • he-1.1.1.js
  • himalaya-0.2.7.js
  • jama-1.0.2
  • jquery-2.1.0.js
  • lodash-4.17.4.js
  • pegjs-0.7.0.js
  • seedrandom-2.4.2.js
  • text-2.0.12.js
  • TextEncoderLite-3c9f6f0.js
  • Tween-r12.js
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