aidemia--modules-lessonplan_request	Titles of parts of the lesson must be formatted as headings
What to create	Lesson plan
Which subject	Mathematics
What topic	Adding and Subtracting unlike denominators
What length (min)	30
What age group	Year or Grade 5
Include homework
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Lesson Plan: Adding and Subtracting Unlike Denominators

Subject: Mathematics

Grade Level: 5

Duration: 30 minutes

Topic: Adding and Subtracting Unlike Denominators

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Objective

Students will learn how to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators by finding a common denominator.

Materials Needed

• Whiteboard and markers
• Fraction strips or fraction circles
• Worksheets for individual practice
• Pencils

Introduction (5 minutes)

1. Engage Students: Begin the lesson with a quick review of fractions. Ask students to share examples of fractions they know and what the numerator and denominator represent.
2. Introduce the Topic: Explain that today, they will learn how to add and subtract fractions that have different denominators, which can sometimes be challenging.

Direct Instruction (10 minutes)

1. Finding a Common Denominator:

   • Explain the concept of a common denominator. Use two fractions as an example, such as ( \frac{1}{3} ) and ( \frac{1}{4} ).
   • Show how to find the least common denominator (LCD) by identifying the multiples of the denominators. In this case, the multiples of 3 (3, 6, 9, 12) and 4 (4, 8, 12) lead to 12 as the LCD.

2. Example on the Board:

   • Convert each fraction to have the LCD:
     • For ( \frac{1}{3} ):
       ( \frac{1}{3} = \frac{1 \times 4}{3 \times 4} = \frac{4}{12} )
     • For ( \frac{1}{4} ):
       ( \frac{1}{4} = \frac{1 \times 3}{4 \times 3} = \frac{3}{12} )
   • Add the fractions: [ \frac{4}{12} + \frac{3}{12} = \frac{7}{12} ]
   • Subtraction example (e.g., ( \frac{3}{4} - \frac{1}{6} )):
     • Find the LCD (12).
     • Convert to have the common denominator and subtract: [ \frac{3}{4} = \frac{9}{12}, \quad \frac{1}{6} = \frac{2}{12} \quad \Rightarrow \quad \frac{9}{12} - \frac{2}{12} = \frac{7}{12} ]

Guided Practice (5 minutes)

• Distribute a worksheet with similar problems for students to practice in pairs. For example:

  1. ( \frac{1}{6} + \frac{1}{3} )
  2. ( \frac{2}{5} - \frac{1}{10} )

• Walk around and assist students as needed.

Independent Practice (5 minutes)

• After the guided practice, provide a few more problems for students to solve independently:

  1. ( \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{3} )
  2. ( \frac{3}{8} - \frac{1}{4} )

• Encourage students to show their work for each step.

Closure (5 minutes)

• Recap what was learned today about finding a common denominator.
• Ask students to share their answers from the independent practice and explain their reasoning.

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Homework

Instructions: Solve the following problems. Show all your work.

1. ( \frac{2}{3} + \frac{1}{6} )
2. ( \frac{5}{8} - \frac{3}{16} )
3. ( \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{2} )

Answers:

1. For ( \frac{2}{3} + \frac{1}{6} ):

   • Common denominator = 6: [ \frac{2}{3} = \frac{4}{6} \quad \Rightarrow \quad \frac{4}{6} + \frac{1}{6} = \frac{5}{6} ]

2. For ( \frac{5}{8} - \frac{3}{16} ):

   • Common denominator = 16: [ \frac{5}{8} = \frac{10}{16} \quad \Rightarrow \quad \frac{10}{16} - \frac{3}{16} = \frac{7}{16} ]

3. For ( \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{2} ):

   • Common denominator = 4: [ \frac{1}{2} = \frac{2}{4} \quad \Rightarrow \quad \frac{1}{4} + \frac{2}{4} = \frac{3}{4} ]

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Teacher Notes

• Ensure all students are engaged during the lesson.
• Monitor students as they work on problems to catch any common mistakes.
• Adjust future lessons based on assessment of students’ understanding during practice.