Step 5 Objective
Begin to add and subtract simple fractions and those with common denominators.
- Examples of what pupils should
know and be able to do - Probing questions
- What if pupils find this a barrier?
What if pupils find this a barrier?
A common misconception is for pupils to add numerators and denominators. It can be helpful to work orally, e.g. saying 'one third plus one third'.
It is important that pupils understand why the denominators need to be the same when adding and subtracting fractions.
Use practical examples where possible: cakes, pizzas, etc.
Use fractions of time, e.g. 
hour + hour is the same as 
hour.
Use Fractions ITP - Zip file (457Kb) as a visual image.