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Look at these different coloured bars.
You might like to download a printable version of them here.
Put the bars in size order - can you do it without cutting them out?
Now focus on this bar:
This bar represents two wholes, or the number 2. You might find it easier to think of it as two bars which are each 'one whole' that have been stuck together.
We are thinking about all the other coloured bars as fractions of this bar, so we are thinking about them as fractions of 2.
For example, look at Bar S below:
Drawing lines helps us measure it against the black bar:
What fraction of the black bar is Bar S?
Go through each of the other coloured bars and compare them to the black bar. What fraction of 2 is each bar?
Write down your ideas for each bar. For example, you could write:
Bar S is two thirds of the black bar.
or
Bar S represents \frac{2}{3} of 2.
or
Bar S is 1\frac{1}{3}.
Can you work out how we came up with these three ideas?
When you've worked out what fraction of 2 each bar represents, have a go at the next challenge here.
This activity gives pupils the opportunity to practise ordering and comparing fractions. It extends the idea of finding a fraction of a whole to finding a fraction of 2. Working together on this task will encourage pupils to build their fraction vocabulary.
Begin by showing some rods of different lengths on the IWB. Put a row of smaller rods together and show that this is the same length as a larger rod. Can pupils work out what fraction of the larger rod each smaller rod is? What if the larger rod represents 2 - what fraction does the smaller rod represent now?
In pairs or small groups, children should have access to multilink cubes, making each bar of the same colour throughout. Otherwise, pupils can use this sheet (word, pdf) along with some squared paper to make paper copies of each bar. It may be helpful for children to make multiple versions of the same bar in order to see that these can be fitted together to be the same length as the black bar.
Give pupils some time to investigate the order of size of the bars, and what fraction each bar represents. Bring the whole class together for a plenary - can the groups explain their choices? There may be disagreements between different groups and this can lead to a healthy discussion, encouraging each group to give reasons for their suggestion.
Why is what you've chosen true?
Can you think of a way of writing that down?
Tell me about your choice of fractions.
This idea is explored further in Extending Fraction Bars.
More Fraction Bars
Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level 
More Fraction Bars
Look at these different coloured bars.
You might like to download a printable version of them here.
Put the bars in size order - can you do it without cutting them out?
Now focus on this bar:
This bar represents two wholes, or the number 2. You might find it easier to think of it as two bars which are each 'one whole' that have been stuck together.
We are thinking about all the other coloured bars as fractions of this bar, so we are thinking about them as fractions of 2.
For example, look at Bar S below:
Drawing lines helps us measure it against the black bar:
What fraction of the black bar is Bar S?
Go through each of the other coloured bars and compare them to the black bar. What fraction of 2 is each bar?
Write down your ideas for each bar. For example, you could write:
Bar S is two thirds of the black bar.
or
Bar S represents \frac{2}{3} of 2.
or
Bar S is 1\frac{1}{3}.
Can you work out how we came up with these three ideas?
When you've worked out what fraction of 2 each bar represents, have a go at the next challenge here.
Why do this problem?
This activity gives pupils the opportunity to practise ordering and comparing fractions. It extends the idea of finding a fraction of a whole to finding a fraction of 2. Working together on this task will encourage pupils to build their fraction vocabulary.
Possible approach
Begin by showing some rods of different lengths on the IWB. Put a row of smaller rods together and show that this is the same length as a larger rod. Can pupils work out what fraction of the larger rod each smaller rod is? What if the larger rod represents 2 - what fraction does the smaller rod represent now?In pairs or small groups, children should have access to multilink cubes, making each bar of the same colour throughout. Otherwise, pupils can use this sheet (word, pdf) along with some squared paper to make paper copies of each bar. It may be helpful for children to make multiple versions of the same bar in order to see that these can be fitted together to be the same length as the black bar.
Give pupils some time to investigate the order of size of the bars, and what fraction each bar represents. Bring the whole class together for a plenary - can the groups explain their choices? There may be disagreements between different groups and this can lead to a healthy discussion, encouraging each group to give reasons for their suggestion.
Key questions
Why is what you've chosen true?Can you think of a way of writing that down?
Tell me about your choice of fractions.
Possible extension
If an individual pupil has gone right to the end, ask them to look at each fraction and relate it to the other sizes, for example:
"P is 1\frac{1}{5} of R as P = 36 and R = 30."This idea is explored further in Extending Fraction Bars.
Possible support
Some pupils may need support to help them focus on the fact that the bar of 48 is two wholes. First finding which bar is equivalent to one whole might help these children to understand what is happening in the activity.You may also like
Pies
Grandma found her pie balanced on the scale with two weights and a quarter of a pie. So how heavy was each pie?