From: Lauro de Lara <laurodelara@Skyinet.net>
To: Teacher2Teacher Public Discussion
Date: 2002030814:24:38
Subject: Fractions

	To teach fractions begin with what are fractions relative to whole
numbers. Whole numbers are for counting. Whole numbers answer the
question How many? For example, cars, horses, trees, houses. There are
no half a house or half a car or half a horse. Fractions on the other
hand are used  to answer questions on measures: how far, how heavy,
volume, weight kilos. To give accurate measures we need fractions. One
half of a distance, half a year, a fraction of a weight or time.

Next draw a rectangle, a circle or square. Emphasize that a whole is 1
and fractions and decimal fractions have been invented to measure
accurately units less than 1.Divide the figure into 2 equal parts and
write 1/2 in half the figure and 1/2 also in the other half. Then
write outside the figures 1/2 + 1/2 = 2/2 = 1. This is the beginning ,
should be the beginning of teaching fractions.

Yours in Math,

laurodelara@Skyinet.net

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