4th Grade Math Lesson

Field Lines and Fraction Times: Multiplying Fractions by Whole Numbers

Shared by A STEM Educator

4th GradeBTC Vertical Whiteboard FramingCCSS.4.NF.B.450 min

Learning Objective

Students will be able to express a fraction $a / b$ as a multiple of $1/ b$ , multiply a whole number by a fraction using repeated addition of unit fractions, and represent the product on a tape diagram or number line to solve real-world word problems.

Lesson Overview

Students progress from expressing non-unit fractions as multiples of unit fractions to solving multi-step sports-tournament word problems involving whole-number × fraction products, using tape diagrams and number line jumps at vertical whiteboards in random groups of 3.

Materials

Vertical whiteboards or large chart paper taped to walls
Dry-erase markers (multiple colors per group)
Erasers or paper towels
Random grouping cards (pre-made)
Printed tape-diagram reference strips (one per group)
Exit slip half-sheets (one per student)

Scaffolded Task Progression

1Task 1

Floor Task — Unit Fraction Expression

A crew member measures one section of the soccer sideline. It is

\frac{3}{4}

of a yard long.

Rewrite

\frac{3}{4}

as a repeated addition of unit fractions on your board.

Then complete:

\frac{3}{4} = \times \frac{1}{4}

Draw a tape diagram divided into

4

equal parts and shade the correct number of parts.

2Task 2

Developing Task — Larger Numerator

Another sideline section measures

\frac{5}{8}

of a yard.

Rewrite

\frac{5}{8}

as a repeated addition of unit fractions, then as a multiplication equation.

\frac{5}{8} = \times \frac{1}{8}

Draw a tape diagram with

8

equal parts and shade the correct amount.

Unlock the full lesson

See all 7 scaffolded tasks, the full answer key, warm-up, exit slip, and a print-ready version — free to start.

Create a free account

Already have an account? Sign in

Make it your own

Like this lesson but want to tweak it?

Make an editable copy and adjust the tasks, warm-up, and answer key to fit your class — no need to start from scratch.

Generate a new lesson