Practice Sheet - Adding Fractions Using an Area Model

This resource is a nine problem, two page practice sheet for adding fractions using an area model for use with 5th grade math.  Students are asked to shade a given area model to represent the fractions being added.  They then write the congruence statement for the problem using the common denominator.  The benefits for students to use an area model instead of the standard algorithm are: it provides a visual representation helping students to see how the parts of a whole fit together, they help students see the significance of the numerator and denominator in representing fractions and how they relate to the size of the pieces being added, they increase the concept of the relative size of the pieces being added, the models naturally lead to the need for a common denominator when adding fractions, models increase students number sense and relational thinking, and models accommodate varying learning styles.  The standard covered is:  Add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators by replacing given fractions with equivalent fractions in such a way as to produce an equivalent sum or difference of fractions with like denominators.