A Lesson Plan for Multiplying Fractions
that Uses Technology with Mods and Accommodations
for Special Needs Students
Technology related parts of the lesson are highlighted in blue.
Modifications for special needs students are highlighted in yellow.
Lesson Topic : Multiplying Fractions (This is a fifth grade math lesson.)
New California Common Core State Standards : 5.NF.B.4 (NF = Number and Operations-Fractions) (Use the iPhone Common Core Standards app.) Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication to multiply a fraction or whole number by a fraction.
Old California State Standards : Gr. 7 NS 1.2 AF 1.3 (Grade 7 Number Systems 1.2 and Algebra and Functions 1.3)
Textbook : California Math Course 2 (A Pre-Algebra Course) by Larson, Boswell, Kanold and Stiff
Content Objective : Multiply fractions and mixed numbers.
Overview : This lesson covers Section 2.5 of the textbook. So it’s basically part of a series of lessons devoted to teaching Chapter 2. Note that somehow with the adoption of Common Core this material seems to have shifted from 7th grade to 5th grade.
Key Vocabulary : multiplicative inverse, numerator, denominator
Word Wall : multiplicative inverse, reciprocal, numerator, denominator, mixed number, improper fraction, simplify, evaluate
The word wall is really intended for English Language Learners, but it might be helpful for special needs kids too.
Required Materials for the Teacher : California Math Course 2 textbook, SMART Board, Internet access for showing Khan Academy math videos, Microsoft PowerPoint, Infrared Wireless Microphone System, iPhone with the Stick Pick app by Buzz Garwood, pencil, pen, eraser, paper
Required Materials for the Students : California Math Course 2 textbook, daily planner, 3 ring math binder which contains class work, homework, quizzes and key vocabulary, pencil, pen, eraser, paper, a calculator is not required
NB - Students are seated in groups of four at tables.
Flexible grouping has been used throughout this lesson. This includes whole class, small groups and pairs. This helps ensure that the students have access to a wide variety of learning opportunities and working arrangements.
Review Homework (Whole Class & Small Group)
Assign each table group some homework problems. They will compare their answers and choose someone to write their solutions on the whiteboard. Once the teacher indicates that the work is correct the students need to make corrections in pen (preferably red) on their papers as needed.
I’d be careful about not asking a kid with a speech impediment to present a problem to the whole class.
Anticipatory Set (Activate Prior Knowledge - Whole Class)
Review the identity property of multiplication, the inverse property of multiplication and how to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions. (Use the iPhone Stick Pick app to choose people.)
Content Presentation (Whole Class)
The students have only a pencil, pen, eraser and paper for taking notes. Their textbooks are closed.
Display Microsoft PowerPoint slide with the content objective on the SMART Board.
Display Microsoft PowerPoint slide with the key vocabulary on the SMART Board. Point out that it’s all on the word wall. Ask them to write the key vocabulary in their 3 ring math binder.
Display Microsoft PowerPoint slide on the SMART Board with the following: The product of two or more fractions is equal to the product of the numerators divided by the product of the denominators.
Show a Khan Academy math video that gives a visual explanation of multiplying two fractions on the SMART Board. (See list of Khan Academy math videos below.)
Go over examples 1, 2 and 3 in Section 2.5 of the textbook. Use the “think aloud” technique on each example. Ask them to write down each example. Ask them to give a collective thumbs up or down after each example. (Informal Assessment)
If a special needs student has trouble taking notes then hopefully his IEP would justify a professional notetaker to take notes for them. (I’ve been at middle schools that have professional notetakers.)
Guided Practice (Small Groups)
Ask them to do problems 1 thru 4 on page 99 with their table groups. Display Microsoft PowerPoint slide with this on the SMART Board. Ask someone what problems they are going to do. (Use the iPhone Stick Pick app to choose someone.) Circulate and make sure everyone is able to do the problems.
When assigning kids to groups I would avoid putting a special needs kid who is struggling with the material in a group of advanced kids. Most likely they would be impatient and just do everything themselves. It would be better to place the special needs kid who is struggling with a remedial person who’s also struggling to get a B-.
However, a high functioning autistic kid with excellent math skills could probably work with the advanced kids. They’d be happy to have an extra smart kid. His main problem would be social skills and that’s what he’d be there to practice.
Review and Assessment (Whole Class & Pairs)
Assign the problems to the table groups. The table groups then choose someone to write the problems on the whiteboard. Check the answers. (Informal Assessment)
Ask the students to describe the procedure for multiplying two fractions. They should do this with an elbow partner. (Pairs)
Independent Practice (Independent)
Assign some homework. (Assessment) Have them write the assignment in their planner. If time permits have them start their homework in class. Post the homework online on the school website.
It’s easy to modify the homework for this lesson. The regular assignment would have problems that multiply two fractions together and problems that multiply two or more fractions together. A modified assignment would only have problems that multiply two fractions together, and could potentially use less complicated fractions.
I’m not sure how I would handle the process of reviewing the homework in groups at the beginning of the next class if one or two people have different sets of problems.
Extra Help Outside of Class
In order to assist people who need extra help I would make a list of which Khan Academy math videos they should watch online. (See list of Khan Academy math videos below.) I would also make myself available on Tuesdays at lunch. Additionally, if need be I could have a small review session once a week after school.
The Khan Academy math videos have subtitles. They would be great for kids with ADHD and what not. They could view a video multiple times at their leisure and they could do extra problems for practice. I need to look into it some more, but it’s possible to make a teacher account and then monitor your students work.
Reference Materials
SMART Board
Infrared Wireless Microphone System
Stick Pick iPhone App by Buzz Garwood
Common Core Standards iPhone App by MasteryConnect
Khan Academy Videos
Changing Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions
Inverse Property of Multiplication
Multiplying Two Fractions (Explanation)
Multiplying Two Fractions (Example)
Multiplying Mixed Numbers
Khan Academy Quizzes
Understanding Multiplying Fractions by Fractions
Multiplying Mixed Numbers
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