Educator Resources for Drop Zone
In Drop Zone, students learn about adding fractions with like and unlike denominators through game play. Guide students to look at the unshaded parts of target fractions to see what amount they need to make a sum of 1. This game is a great tool for helping students practice finding common denominators and develop number sense.
For more teacher resources, visit Illuminations
Adding and Subtracting Fractions Lesson Plan: The Drop Zone Game
Grades: 3-8
In this lesson plan, which is adaptable for grades 3-8, students use BrainPOP resources to explore a variety of strategies for addition with fractions. Students will use physical and virtual models (including an online interactive game) to demonstrate an understanding of how to add fractions.
Common Core State Standards Alignment:
Grade 3
CCSS.Math.Cont.3.NF.A.1 Understand a fraction 1/b as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is partitioned into b equal parts; understand a fraction a/b as the quantity formed by a parts of size 1/b.
CCSS.Math.Cont.3.NF.A.3b Recognize and generate simple equivalent fractions, (e.g., 1/2 = 2/4, 4/6 = 2/3). Explain why the fractions are equivalent, e.g., by using a visual fraction model.
CCSS.Math.Cont.3.NF.A.3d Compare two fractions with the same numerator or the same denominator by reasoning about their size. Recognize that comparisons are valid only when the two fractions refer to the same whole. Record the results of comparisons with the symbols >, =, or <, and justify the conclusions, e.g., by using a visual fraction model.
Grade 4
CCSS.Math.Cont.4.NF.A.1 Explain why a fraction a/b is equivalent to a fraction (n _ a)/(n _ b) by using visual fraction models, with attention to how the number and size of the parts differ even though the two fractions themselves are the same size. Use this principle to recognize and generate equivalent fractions.
CCSS.Math.Cont.4.NF.A.2 Compare two fractions with different numerators and different denominators, e.g., by creating common denominators or numerators, or by comparing to a benchmark fraction such as 1/2. Recognize that comparisons are valid only when the two fractions refer to the same whole. Record the results of comparisons with symbols >, =, or <, and justify the conclusions, e.g., by using a visual fraction model.
CCSS.Math.Cont.4.NF.B.3b Decompose a fraction into a sum of fractions with the same denominator in more than one way, recording each decomposition by an equation. Justify decompositions, e.g., by using a visual fraction model.
Grade 5
CCSS.Math.Cont.5.NF.A.1 Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators (including mixed numbers) by replacing given fractions with equivalent fractions in such a way as to produce an equivalent sum or difference of fractions with like denominators.
Grade 7
CCSS.Math.Cont.7.NS.A.3 Solve real-world and mathematical problems involving the four operations with rational numbers.
