Lesson Plan – Unit Fractions in Ancient Egypt

Curriculum Expectations

Grade 9

B3. Number Sense and Operations

B3.2 apply an understanding of unit fractions and their relationship to other fractional amounts, in various contexts, including the use of measuring tools

Grade 8

B2. Operations

B2.5 add and subtract fractions, using appropriate strategies, in various contexts

Learning Goals of the Lesson

Students will

• Learn what unit fractions are
• Learn to decompose common fractions into sums of unit fractions
• Solve problems using unit fractions

Getting Started

• Open Chapter 4 – Fractions and project it on the big screen.
• Tell students that today they will learn what Egyptian unit fractions are and solve some 4 thousand year old Egyptian problems
• Find and show Egypt on the Map and Timeline
• Let students listen to Egypt. Eye of Horus
• Read and solve 4.8 with the class in a class discussion format. Leave the solution on the board

Working on It

• Assign 4.1. Let students work in pairs or groups. If your students are familiar to the Thinking Classroom format let them work on vertical non-permanent surfaces (VNPS)
• When students are done let them write their answers on the boards or chart paper or VNPS

Consolidating and Connecting (After)

• Discuss which solution makes larger pieces when loaves are cut (1/2+1/3+1/15). This is an example of practical use of unit fractions.
• Ask students to come up with examples when unit fractions might be useful in real world
• Assign 4.2 and 4.4 either individually or in pairs. Students have to check their solutions with the teacher or they work in the Thinking Classroom format on the VNPS

Extension:

Problems 4.3, 4.5 and 4.7 can be assigned for those who finish earlier

Assessment tools

Observation: Students check their answers with a teacher or they work on VNPS