Building Benches and Measuring Tools: Introduction to Fractions

Building Benches and Measuring Tools is a new third grade unit in the Contexts for Learning Mathematics series. The mathematical focus of the unit is the early development of fractions, using a measurement context. The unit also promotes the development of the double number line model. Building Benches and Measuring Tools is designed to promote mathematical inquiry and to encourage children to become excited about being a mathematician. A read-aloud for the development of the realistic contexts used for the inquiries is included in the Appendix.