At what grade are kids doing fractions?

lakotagirl · Apr 29, 2008

My character is talking to a friend who is working on homework. The friend says that he has ten fractions to complete before his homework is done.

I've just realized that I don't know what grade he would be in. What grade to kids these days start learning fractions?

MsJudy · Apr 29, 2008

first grade: what is a fraction, one-half, one-third, one-fourth.
second grade: two-thirds, six-tenths, plus equivalent fractions (two-fourths is the same as one-half)
third grade: adding and subtracting fractions, renaming compound fractions (four-thirds is the same as one and one-third), converting tenths to decimals
fourth through sixth: multiplying and dividing fractions, converting to decimals and back

PattiTheWicked · Apr 29, 2008

My second graders are learning things like:

1/2 = 4/8
2/3 > 1/6
3/5 < 3/4

Then again, they're both in advanced-track math classes, but I'd say JSK's breakdown is pretty accurate.

paprikapink · Apr 29, 2008

At our school the kids studied fractions with a vengeance starting in fourth grade.

lakotagirl · Apr 30, 2008

Perfect! Thanks to all.

Perks · Apr 30, 2008

My girl just started fractions in earnest this year - third grade.

Angela_785 · Apr 30, 2008

Here in Canada, fractions really come out in grade 3, but before that there's lots of visual fractions, like showing 1/4 of a pizza, 1/2 of a cake...that kind of stuff. It's more adding and taking away though, than your traditional fraction understanding. Laying the groundwork for the harder stuff, I guess...

Angela, who fears the day her kids realize they probably have better math skills than she does.

JoNightshade · Apr 30, 2008

Wow. My gradeschool seriously sucked.

MsJudy · Apr 30, 2008

Most states now have "standards" that dictate what material is taught at each grade level. Try going to your state department of education website and you can look up each grade level's standards for math, language arts, social studies, science, art, p.e. California's standards are considered really good, if your state doesn't have any. (If only California school financing didn't suck so badly...)

At what grade are kids doing fractions?

lakotagirl

Forgot what I was gonna say

MsJudy

PattiTheWicked

Unleashing Hell.

paprikapink

Bored fanatic

lakotagirl

Forgot what I was gonna say

Perks

delicate #!&@*#! flower

Angela_785

JoNightshade

has finally arrived

MsJudy