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Year 5

Use representations to describe and compare two fractions in a continuous context

I can use representations to describe and compare fractions in a continuous context.

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Year 5

Use representations to describe and compare two fractions in a continuous context

I can use representations to describe and compare fractions in a continuous context.

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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Number lines and scales represent fractions in a continuous context.
  2. The whole has been divided into __ equal parts and the line shows __ of them.

Keywords

  • Continuous - Continuous means that every position on the line or scale has a value.

  • Equal - Equal means that something has exactly the same amount or value.

Common misconception

Children need to understand that fractions can also be fractions of 1 and have an exact position on a number line. There may be confusion over labelling an exact point rather than a part of the line.

Use the language of labelling a point on the line and avoid talking about 'half of the line' which is the language of parts of a whole. This helps children to see that fractions are numbers in their own right with a unique position on a number line.


To help you plan your year 5 maths lesson on: Use representations to describe and compare two fractions in a continuous context, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

The slides model the activities which children should engage with practically. Water, sand or rice can be used to fill parallel sided containers. The printable number lines in the practice tasks allow children to engage with the estimating and comparison of the positions of the fractions.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the word with the best definition.
Correct Answer:The numerator,tells you how many parts are chosen or shaded.
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tells you how many parts are chosen or shaded.

Correct Answer:The denominator,tells you how many equal parts the whole as been divided into.
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tells you how many equal parts the whole as been divided into.

Q2.
Which glass is about half full?
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q3.
Which letter represents when $${1}\over{2}$$ would sit on this number line?
An image in a quiz
a
Correct answer: b
c
d
Q4.
Match the fractions to the statements.
Correct Answer:$${2}\over{4}$$,is equal to $${1}\over{2}$$
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is equal to $${1}\over{2}$$

Correct Answer:$${5}\over{6}$$,is greater than $${1}\over{2}$$
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is greater than $${1}\over{2}$$

Correct Answer:$${2}\over{5}$$,is less than $${1}\over{2}$$
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is less than $${1}\over{2}$$

Q5.
Which four numbers could you use to create two fractions equivalent to $${1}\over{2}$$?
Correct answer: 3
Correct answer: 5
Correct answer: 6
9
Correct answer: 10
Q6.
Which other fractions could sit at the same place as this fraction on the number line?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: $${2}\over{4}$$
$${5}\over{6}$$
$${2}\over{5}$$
Correct answer: $${9}\over{18}$$

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these glasses of juice been labelled with the correct fraction to show how full they are?
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q2.
Which of these glasses of juice would you say is around $${4}\over{5}$$ full?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q3.
Which of these fractions would be closest to 0 on a 0 to 1 number line?
Correct answer: $${1}\over{9}$$
$${1}\over{8}$$
$${1}\over{7}$$
Q4.
Which of these fractions would be closest to 1 on a 0 to 1 number line?
Correct answer: $${8}\over{9}$$
$${7}\over{8}$$
$${6}\over{7}$$
Q5.
Which of these fractions would sit between $${1}\over{2}$$ and 1 on a 0 to 1 number line?
Correct answer: $${3}\over{4}$$
$${3}\over{9}$$
Correct answer: $${3}\over{5}$$
$${3}\over{10}$$
Q6.
Match the fractions with the points they would sit at on the number line.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:a,$${1}\over{4}$$
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$${1}\over{4}$$

Correct Answer:a,$${3}\over{12}$$
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$${3}\over{12}$$

Correct Answer:b,$${3}\over{4}$$
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$${3}\over{4}$$

Correct Answer:b,$${9}\over{12}$$
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$${9}\over{12}$$

Correct Answer:c,$${1}\over{3}$$
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$${1}\over{3}$$

Correct Answer:c,$${3}\over{9}$$
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$${3}\over{9}$$