Courseversity

Lesson

Adding fractions with like denominators

Primary EducationGrade 4MathematicsCV-PRI-G04-MATH-FRA-U01-L0645–60 min

You will learn

  • Add numerators only.
  • Keep the denominator.
  • Simplify the sum.
  • Write sums greater than 1.

Version 0.2 · expanded edition · expert review pending Standards alignment: pending verification. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.

Student lesson

The lesson in 60 seconds

  1. Add the numerators only.
  2. Keep the denominator the same.
  3. Simplify the sum if you can.
  4. A sum greater than 1 can be a mixed number.

Words to know

like denominators
Same bottom number.
sum
Answer to addition.
simplify
Lowest terms.
whole
The complete thing.

1. Discover: eating pizza

Ada ate 3/8 of a pizza and Bayo ate 2/8. How much did they eat together?

2. Understand: adding like fractions

Add the numerators. The denominator stays the same.

  • 3/8 + 2/8 = 5/8.
  • 5/9 + 4/9 = 9/9 = 1.
  • 1/6 + 3/6 = 4/6 = 2/3.
  • 5/6 + 3/6 = 8/6 = 1 2/6 = 1 1/3.

Idea 1: Add

2/7 + 3/7 = 5/7. 1/5 + 2/5 = 3/5. 3/10 + 4/10 = 7/10.

Idea 2: Simplify

5/12 + 3/12 = 8/12 = 2/3.

Idea 3: Greater than 1

7/8 + 3/8 = 10/8 = 1 2/8 = 1 1/4.

Why keep the denominator? The parts are the same size, so we only count how many.

Remember: Add the tops; keep the bottom; simplify.

3. Worked examples

Example 1 (I show you): Add

2/7 + 3/7

  1. 2 + 3 = 5.

Answer: 5/7

Example 2 (We do it together): Simplify

5/12 + 3/12

  1. 8/12 ÷ 4.

Answer: 2/3

Example 3 (You try): Over 1

7/8 + 3/8

Show the steps and answer
  1. 10/8 = 1 2/8.

Answer: 1 1/4

Did you know?

Adding fractions with like denominators is like adding objects: 2 apples + 3 apples.

Why this matters

Adding fractions is used in recipes, measuring and sharing.

4. Explore: add

You need fraction strips.

  1. Colour 3/8 on a strip.
  2. Colour 2/8 more.
  3. Count eighths.
  4. Write 5/8.
Think about it: what did you notice?

5/8.

5. Practise

Say it in a sentence

Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.

  • The denominators are ___.
  • I add the numerators ___ + ___ = ___.
  • The sum is ___.
  • In lowest terms it is ___.

Guided practice

Question 1. 3/8 + 2/8?

5/8.

Question 2. 5/9 + 4/9?

1.

Question 3. 1/6 + 3/6?

2/3.

Independent practice

Level 1: Start

  1. 2/7 + 3/7
  2. 1/5 + 2/5
  3. 3/10 + 4/10
  4. 5/12 + 3/12
  5. 7/8 + 3/8

Level 2: Grow

  1. 3/9 + 4/9
  2. 1/8 + 5/8
  3. 7/10 + 5/10

Level 3: Stretch

  1. 4/15 + 8/15
  2. 11/12 + 7/12
  3. Ana says 3/5 + 3/5 = 6/10. What is wrong?

Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.

6. Apply: everyday mathematics

Ada ate 3/8 and Bayo 2/8 of a pizza. How much altogether?

Show a sample answer

5/8.

Another one. Ife ate 3/8 of a loaf in the morning and 2/8 in the evening. What fraction did she eat? What is left?

Show a sample answer

3/8 + 2/8 = 5/8 eaten, so 3/8 is left.

7. Common mistakes

Mistake: Adding the denominators too.
Fix: Keep the denominator.
Another mistake: Adding the denominators too.
Fix: Keep the denominator.
Another mistake: Not simplifying.
Fix: Check for a common factor.

8. Lesson summary and revision card

I can…

  • I can add numerators only.
  • I can keep the denominator.
  • I can simplify the sum.
  • I can write sums greater than 1.

9. Check and master

Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.

1. 3/8 + 2/8 =

2. 5/9 + 4/9 =

3. 1/6 + 3/6 =

4. 2/7 + 3/7 =

5. 5/12 + 3/12 =

6. 2/11 + 5/11 =

7. 4/9 + 2/9 in simplest form is…

8. 5/8 + 6/8 =

9. 7/10 + 6/10 =

10. 3/12 + 7/12 in simplest form is…

11. When adding fractions with like denominators we add the…

12. 9/10 + 9/10 =

Challenge 1. 7/8 + 3/8 =

Challenge 2. 5/6 + 5/6 + 5/6 =

Your result appears here after you answer every question.

10. Key takeaways

  • Add numerators.
  • Keep denominator.
  • Simplify.

11. Next lesson

Next lesson: Subtracting fractions with like denominators. Keep going with the next idea in this course.

Exam practice

These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.

  1. Find 2/7 + 3/7. [2 marks]
  2. Find 3/10 + 4/10. [1 mark]
  3. Find 5/12 + 3/12 in lowest terms. [3 marks]
  4. Find 7/8 + 3/8 as a mixed number. [3 marks]
  5. Ben says 2/7 + 3/7 = 5/14. Is he right? Explain. [3 marks]

Total: 12 marks.

Marking guide and model answers
  1. 2 + 3 = 5 [1]; 5/7 [1]
  2. 7/10 [1]
  3. 8/12 [1]; divide by 4 [1]; 2/3 [1]
  4. 10/8 [1]; 1 2/8 [1]; 1 1/4 [1]
  5. No [1]. The denominator stays 7 [1]. The sum is 5/7 [1].

Score guide: 11 to 12 = secure. 8 to 10 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 8 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.

Printable worksheet

  1. 2/7 + 3/7
  2. 1/5 + 2/5
  3. 3/10 + 4/10
  4. 5/12 + 3/12
  5. 7/8 + 3/8
  6. 3/8 + 2/8 =
  7. 5/9 + 4/9 =
  8. 1/6 + 3/6 =
  9. 2/7 + 3/7 =
  10. 5/12 + 3/12 =

Homework

Add four pairs of fractions with the same denominator.

Answer key and marking scheme

Question Expected response Marks
2/7 + 3/7 5/7 2
1/5 + 2/5 3/5 2
3/10 + 4/10 7/10 2
5/12 + 3/12 2/3 2
7/8 + 3/8 1 1/4 2
Total 10

Practice answers: Worksheet: 1 5/7; 2 3/5; 3 7/10; 4 2/3; 5 1 1/4.

Quiz answers: 1 A, 2 B, 3 C, 4 A, 5 B, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 C, Challenge 2 C.

Extra worksheet answers (items 6 onward): 6 5/8; 7 1; 8 2/3; 9 5/7; 10 2/3.

Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 5/7; 2 3/5; 3 7/10; 4 8/12 = 2/3; 5 10/8 = 1 1/4. Level 2: 1 7/9; 2 6/8 = 3/4; 3 12/10 = 1 1/5. Level 3: 1 12/15 = 4/5; 2 18/12 = 1 1/2; 3 The denominator stays 5. 3/5 + 3/5 = 6/5 = 1 1/5..

Mastery and remediation

Objective Bronze (Developing) Silver (Proficient) Gold (Advanced)
O1 Add numerators only Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation
O2 Keep the denominator Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation
O3 Simplify the sum Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation
O4 Write sums greater than 1 Shows this with help from an adult or a picture Does this independently and explains how they know Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation

Proposed Courseversity thresholds for this page: Bronze = at least 8 of 12 core questions correct; Silver = all 12; Gold = all 12 plus both challenge questions. A badge is never a full record of progress.

If a learner struggles

  1. Find the misconception: Adding the denominators too. Keep the denominator.
  2. Explain another way: use real objects first, then pictures.
  3. Show a simpler example: Add with fraction strips.
  4. Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
  5. Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
  6. Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.

For parents and guardians

In this lesson your child adds fractions with the same denominator. You do not need to be good at mathematics to help.

  • Add pizza slices in the same pizza.
  • Ask: are the pieces the same size?
  • Show a sum over 1 with two bars.
  • Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
  • Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
  • Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.

Teacher package

1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration

Lesson objectives. Learners will: add numerators only; keep the denominator; simplify the sum; write sums greater than 1.

Prerequisite knowledge. Lessons 1 to 3.

Materials. Counters (stones, seeds or bottle tops), paper, pencils, board or chalkboard. Low-resource options: use stones, seeds, sticks, bottle tops or drawings in the sand or on the board instead of printed materials.

Preparation. Gather the counters and draw the example pictures on the board before the lesson.

Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.

6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities

Introduction (5 min). Start with the Discover situation and let learners suggest ideas before you teach.

Explanation (10 min). Teach the Understand section with real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words.

Guided activity (10 min). You need fraction strips. Learners follow the Explore steps in pairs.

Independent activity (10 min). Learners complete the independent practice and the worksheet.

Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.

Key questions. Are the denominators the same? Can the sum be simplified?

Teacher explanation notes. Use the concrete, pictorial, abstract order: real objects first, then pictures, then symbols and words. Return to real objects whenever a learner needs support.

10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions

Support. Use real objects and work with a partner; say each step aloud together. Extension. Ask learners to make up their own example and explain it to a partner.

Formative assessment. Listen to learner explanations, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.

Misconceptions. Adding the denominators too. Keep the denominator.

13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme

Use the quiz and worksheet on this page. The 12-mark exam practice scheme, the 10-mark scheme and all answers are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer and the marking scheme before publication.

16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection

Remediation. Add with fraction strips. Enrichment. Invite learners to find or create three more examples at home or in the classroom and explain them. Homework. See above.

Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which concepts learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.

Sources and standards

Alignment is pending verification and no external endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points named in the Courseversity standard: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Specific standard codes will be added once checked against the official documents.

Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core 4.NF.B.3 (add fractions with like denominators); Cambridge Primary Mathematics Stage 4 (adding fractions). These sources informed the lesson; no official alignment is claimed.

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