Example: 1/2 represents the same fractional part of a whole as 3/6, 4/8, etc.
In class the students have fraction cards to represent fractions in halves, thirds, fourths, sixths, and eigths. They can lay the cards side by side and compare the shaded parts to determine if they are equal amounts of the whole.
We discovered that the fractions that equal 1/2 (in the example above) have something in common. The numerator is exactly half of the denominator!
Look at 3/6 3 is half of 6
Look at 4/8 4 is half of 8
When we identified the fraction cards that are less than 1/2 we noticed that their numerators were smaller than half of the denominator.
Look at 2/6 2 is smaller than 3 which is half of 6
Look at 1/8 1 is smaller than 4 which is half of 8
And when we identified the fraction cards that are more than 1/2 we noticed that their numerators were bigger than half of the denominator.
Look at 5/6 5 is bigger than 3 which is half of 6
Look at 6/8 6 is bigger than 4 which is half of 8
Don't forget that IXL has practice for fractions! See categories U.1 U.2 U.3