PBL PROJECT: Fraction Builder (Ages 9-12)

Mission

The primary goal of this Project-Based Learning (PBL) activity is to help students understand fractions through the visual manipulation of colored rows. Participants will learn how fractions, decimals, and percentages are interconnected by using a digital or physical “Fraction Builder” tool.

Project Phases

Step 1: Exploration

Students begin by experimenting with the game board, which is divided into rows of various sizes. They use the settings to toggle between different numerical views (fractions, decimals, and percentages) to understand how the rows correspond to these mathematical concepts.

Step 2: Visual Representation

Using a blank grid, students must manually represent specific fractions—such as 5/8, 7/9, 2/3, 4/5, and 1/2—by coloring the bars. This step focuses on visualizing how smaller parts combine to form a specific fractional sum.

Step 3: Percentage Mastery

In “Observe” mode, students focus on the percentage column. The task is to find multiple visual ways to represent 33% and 50%, demonstrating that different row configurations can represent the same percentage value.

Step 4: Decimal Conversion

By activating “Decimal” mode, students investigate equivalence. They are tasked with finding the specific fractions and percentages that correspond to the decimals 0.56 and 0.75.

Step 5: Reflection and Collaboration

In the final phase, students document their insights regarding how the game helped them visualize mathematical relationships. They are encouraged to connect these new representations to their previous knowledge and share their findings with classmates to deepen their collective understanding of the math involved.