Proportional thinking – Early proportional thinking

A resource to support number knowledge development, providing opportunities for students to develop a strong understanding of combinations to 5 and 10, and the parts that make these quantities.

This resource was developed in partnership with the NSW Mathematics Strategy Professional Learning team, Curriculum Early Years and Primary Learners, and Literacy and Numeracy.

Using the resource

This resource is the first section of a four-part resource supporting proportional thinking. Use this resource in conjunction with the other resources in this series to support a connected network of critical mathematical concepts, skills and understanding.

Supporting tasks

Refer to the resource (available for download via the Universal Resources Hub) for full instructions on how to use each of these tasks and includes materials, related tasks and learning intentions.

Task 1: Numbers on a line

Core learning: Visualising the whole to approximate and adjust estimations of halves and quarters.

  • Variation 1: Repeat the activity with numbers with various ranges of three- or four-digit numbers.

  • Variation 2: Students identify the related fraction and write it underneath the number cards.

Task 2: Colour in fractions

Core learning: Equivalent fractions express the same amount by using different sized fractional parts.

Task 3: Make a whole game

The task is from Teaching Mathematics: Foundations to Middle Years, page 542, Make a Whole Game from Siemon et al. (2021).

Core learning: There are many different fractions equal to any given fraction and a fraction can be renamed using equivalence.

Task 4: Decimal numbers on a line

Core learning: Benchmark fractions can assist in dividing space on a number line.

  • Variation: Students order decimals and fractions on a number line.

Task 5: Decimats

The task is from Engaging Maths: 25 Favourite Maths Lessons (Clarke and Roche, 2014).

Core learning: Renaming numbers using place value understanding helps to sequence, order and compare numbers.

  • Variation: Play the game again, this time including thousandths

Task 6: Rolling arrays

Core learning: Mental models of arrays are helpful for exploring multiplicative situations.

  • Variation: Students build the complete array and move the counters to show the fraction of the collection.

Contact

For more information, contact literacy.numeracy@det.nsw.edu.au

Category:

  • Numeracy

Business Unit:

  • Teaching and Learning Support
Return to top of page Back to top