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Equivalent Fractions

Fourth graders learn that different fractions can name the exact same amount, and practice making and checking equivalent fractions by scaling the top and bottom together.

Grade 4Equivalent Fractions50 minutes1 class periodGradual ReleaseExplicit teaching4 StandardsCommon Core
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Define equivalent fractions.
  • ✓Make them by multiplying or dividing.
  • ✓Keep the same amount.
  • ✓Check two fractions.
Essential Question

Half a cup and two quarter-cups fill the same measuring cup. How can fractions that look so different name the exact same amount?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Model · Interactive Tool

Fractions Check

Project this and answer each question about equivalent fractions — read the explanation after each one.

🧮 Check what you know about equivalent fractionsTry it
Answer each question about equivalent fractions.
The Lesson · Gradual Release (I Do · We Do · You Do)

50 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Hook — Same Slice, Different Cut

5 min

Half a pizza and two quarters of a pizza look different. Is it the same amount?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show 1/2 and 2/4.
  • Ask if they are equal.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Think.
  • Share.
  • Get ready.
2

Use — Fractions Check

12 min

Students answer questions about equivalent fractions.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Fractions Check.
  • Answer each question.
  • Read the why.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Check.
  • Read it.
3

Modify — Scale the Fraction

13 min

Students build equivalents by scaling.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Pick a fraction.
  • Multiply top and bottom.
  • Check the amount matches.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Pick.
  • Multiply.
  • Check.
4

Create — Fraction Family

15 min

Students make a set of equal fractions.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Start with 1/3.
  • Make three equivalents.
  • Show them on a bar.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Start.
  • Make.
  • Show.
5

Reflect — Same Amount

5 min

Students reflect on why the amount stays equal.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • What makes fractions equivalent?
  • Why multiply both parts?
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

CCSS
4.NF.A.1

Explain why a fraction a/b is equivalent to (n×a)/(n×b) and use this to recognize equivalent fractions.

CCSS
4.NF.A.2

Compare two fractions with different numerators and denominators.

CCSS
3.NF.A.3

Understand two fractions as equivalent if they are the same size or the same point on a number line.

CCSS
MP.7

Look for and make use of structure.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Fraction-bar picture cards.
  • Sentence frame: “1/2 is the same as ___ .”
  • Match one equivalent at a time.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with halves and fourths.
  • Use folded paper strips.
  • Scale by 2 before trying other numbers.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Simplify fractions to lowest terms.
  • Compare unlike fractions by scaling.
  • Find a missing numerator in an equation.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🧁Fraction bars / strips
  • 💻Fractions Check
  • 📐Grid paper
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

fractiona number that shows part of a wholeequivalent fractionsfractions that name the same amountnumeratorthe top number of a fraction; how many parts you havedenominatorthe bottom number of a fraction; how many equal parts in allsimplest forma fraction reduced so the top and bottom share no common factor but 1scaleto multiply or divide both parts of a fraction by the same numberwholethe complete amount, split into equal partscommon factora number that divides into both the numerator and denominator
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What does it mean for two fractions to be equivalent?
They name the same amount, even though the numbers look different (like 1/2 and 2/4).
QUESTION 2
How do you make a fraction equivalent to 2/3?
Multiply the top and bottom by the same number, for example by 2 to get 4/6.
QUESTION 3
Why does scaling the top and bottom keep the value the same?
Because you are multiplying by a form of 1 (like 2/2), which does not change the amount.

Create: a fraction family.

Have students start with 1/3, make three equivalent fractions by scaling, and show them lined up on a fraction bar to prove they match. A printable equivalent-fractions worksheet is in the Mathematics library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Equivalent FractionsFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Equivalent FractionsQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Equivalent FractionsPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: common factor, denominator, equivalent fractions, fraction, numerator, scale, simplest form, whole
  1. the bottom number of a fraction; how many equal parts in all
  2. a fraction reduced so the top and bottom share no common factor but 1
  3. the complete amount, split into equal parts
  4. a number that divides into both the numerator and denominator
  5. the top number of a fraction; how many parts you have
  6. to multiply or divide both parts of a fraction by the same number
  7. a number that shows part of a whole
  8. fractions that name the same amount

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What does it mean for two fractions to be equivalent?
  2. How do you make a fraction equivalent to 2/3?
  3. Why does scaling the top and bottom keep the value the same?
Answer key — Part A: 1) denominator · 2) simplest form · 3) whole · 4) common factor · 5) numerator · 6) scale · 7) fraction · 8) equivalent fractions
Part B: 1) They name the same amount, even though the numbers look different (like 1/2 and 2/4). 2) Multiply the top and bottom by the same number, for example by 2 to get 4/6. 3) Because you are multiplying by a form of 1 (like 2/2), which does not change the amount.