 Instructional Background Preskills Knowledge and Skills for Students - Understand when a fraction can and cannot be used. Use a fraction to describe only a whole that is divided into equal parts.
- Identify the numerator and denominator of a fraction when represented in fraction form, as a set, as an area model, or on a number line.
- Interpret the numerator as the number of selected parts.
- Interpret the denominator as the type of parts or the number of total parts.
- Read and write fractions represented in fraction form, using correct mathematical language.
- Use multiplication and division facts from 1–12.
- Generate multiples and factors.
Mathematics Content Knowledge for Teachers - Fractions express numbers that are between whole numbers.
- A fraction represents a single number or location on the number line.
- Fractions are rational numbers.
- Whole numbers are a subset of rational numbers.
- Fractions define the relationship between parts and wholes (objects, groups of objects, or quantities).
- A set is a collection of individual objects. Each object is an equal part of the whole.
- A fraction always represents a part of something. This “something” is called the whole or 1.
- The parts into which the whole are divided must be equal.
- The number above the fraction bar is the numerator. It is the number of parts.
- The number below the fraction bar is the denominator. It is the type of parts or the total number of parts that make up 1 whole.
- An infinite number of different fractions can represent a single location on the number line. For example,
 ,  ,  ,  , etc. represent a single location on the number line. - The fraction bar is also called a “vinculum.” A vinculum is a horizontal line to indicate that multiple terms are considered as a single term.
- Unit fractions are formed by dividing a whole (region, set, or distance on a number line) into equal parts1.
- If the whole is divided into B equal parts, then the amount formed by 1 of those parts is
 of the whole. In other words, B copies of the amount of the whole are joined together make the whole. is the unit fraction2. - 1 whole consists of B pieces of size .
- Where A and B are counting numbers, the fraction
 of the whole is the amount formed by A parts (or copies of parts), each of which is of the whole2. - Using the English fraction term,
 is read: “four-sixths.” The number of parts being described is said first, “four.” Then, the name of the parts in the whole is said, “sixths.” 6 parts are involved, so each part is  of the whole1. - can also be described as “out of 6 parts, select 4.” The number of the parts in the whole is indicated first, and then the number of parts is stated1.
- The multiplicative identity property, also called the identity property of 1, or identity property of multiplication, states that the product of any number and 1 is the number itself.
- 1 is the multiplicative identity. 1 can be represented as
 ,  ,  , etc. - Because whole numbers are a subset of rational numbers, which include fractions, the multiplicative identify property applies when the original number is a fraction, as well as when 1 is written in fractional form.
- National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2009). Focus in grade 3: Teaching with curriculum focal points. Reston, VA: Author.
- Beckman, S. (2011). Mathematics for elementary teachers with activity manual, 3rd Edition. Boston, MA: Addison-Wesley.
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