Danielle Valasiadis

Interest Task 1
The Profiler
Middle School Math: Adding/Subtracting Fractions
Understanding Goals:
Adding and subtracting are inverse operations
Adding fractions is putting them together to find a sum
Subtracting fractions is taking something away
Knowledge Goals:
Fractions must be in simplest form
Need a common denominator
Create equivalent fractions
Add or subtract the numerator, but the denominator stays the same
Skill Goals:
Analyze the difference between adding and subtracting fractions. When do you add fractions? When do you
subtract fractions?
Determine how to find the least common denominator of unlike fractions.
The day before this task, students will write down their favorite task in order from 1 (they want it) to 4 (they do not
want it). I will then group the students off the best I can with the list they created. I will try to give the students their
first choice. At the start of class, I will give the students their groups with their job. Students will then group off and
work on their assigned task.
Songwriter:
Taylor Swift has hired you to educate her on adding and
subtracting fractions. Choose a popular tune or make up
your own to help Taylor understand this concept. Create
lyrics about how to find the least common denominator
and how to create equivalent fractions. See the directions
below. (Musical-Rhythmic).

Author:
J.K. Rowling does not understand how to add or subtract
fractions. Create a short story that includes fractions
needing to be added together or subtracted. The ending of
your short story should be based on how you go about
solving the problem describing all of your steps. See the
directions below. (Verbal-Linguistic).

Acting / Charades:
Your job is to have the class figure out what you are
acting out. Pick an adding or subtracting fraction situation
and in detail act out what is occurring. Your peers will
have to guess what type of problem you are acting out.
See the directions below. (Bodily Kinesthetic)

Tour Guide:
Oh no! You have a group of friends coming to your class
and they do not know how to add or subtract fractions.
You are now their Tour Guide! Give them a detailed tour
of the appropriate steps and thought process you must
take to solve an addition or subtraction problem. See the
directions below. (Interpersonal).

Closure: Once every group is finished, we will come together as a class. Each group will present to the class, while
the whole class is listening. We will wrap up at the end for students to ask questions and sum up what they have
learned. Students will then turn in their work to me for an evaluation.

Directions
Songwriter: Taylor Swift has hired you to educate her on adding and subtracting
fractions. Choose a popular tune or make up your own to help Taylor understand
this concept. Create lyrics about how to find the least common denominator and
how to create equivalent fractions. (Musical-Rhythmic).
Checklist:
In your song you should
Choose a tune or make up your own
Create either an adding or subtracting fractions problem
From these fractions, how do you find the least common denominator?
After you found the least common denominator, how do you create
equivalent fractions to be able to add or subtract?
Write out your lyrics to sing

Author: J.K. Rowling does not understand how to add or subtract fractions. Create
a short story that includes fractions needing to be added together or subtracted. The
ending of your short story should be based on how you go about solving the
problem describing all of your steps. (Verbal-Linguistic).

Checklist:
In your short story you should
Create word problem on adding or subtracting fractions
This word problem should create a short story
After the story is told, describe exactly step by step how you solve the
problem
o How did you know it was an addition or subtraction problem?
o How did you know the order of the equation?
o How did you find the least common denominator and equivalent
fractions?
o How did you solve the problem and get to a solution?

Acting / Charades: Your job is to have the class figure out what you are acting
out. Pick an adding or subtracting fraction situation and in detail act out what is
occurring. Your peers will have to guess what type of problem you are acting out.
(Bodily Kinesthetic)
Checklist:
In your play you should
Create an addition or subtraction problem with fractions
Find a way to act out what is occurring. This should be so detailed that your
peers can guess what type of problem this is.
Act out the steps
o Finding least common denominator
o Creating equivalent fractions
o Simplifying if needed
o Getting to the solution
Use props and be creative!
Write out your script for the play

Tour Guide: Oh no! You have a group of friends coming to your class and they do
not know how to add or subtract fractions. You are now their Tour Guide! Give
them a detailed tour of the appropriate steps and thought process you must take to
solve an addition or subtraction problem. (Interpersonal).
Checklist:
In your tour you should
Choose an addition or subtraction problem with fractions
Plan out a detailed tour of these steps. Act as if you are giving a tour of your
home
o What is the problem?
o How do you know what type of problem is?
o What are the steps you take to solve the problem?
o Do they fractions have common denominators? If not, how would you
do this?
o How would you get to your answer?
o Make sure you go through your whole thought process when solving a
problem.
Write out your script for the tour.

The Profiler Evaluation

Category
Understanding

Knowledge

Skills

Communicatio
n Power

3 Points

2 Points

1 point

Adding and subtracting are inverse

operations
Adding fractions is putting them
together to find a sum
Subtracting fractions is taking
something away

Only mastered
two of the
understandings.

Only
mastered one
of the
understandin
gs.

Fractions must be in simplest form

Need a common denominator and have
to create equivalent fractions
Add or subtract the numerator, but the
denominator stays the same

Only mastered
two of the
knowledge
skills listed.

Only
mastered one
of the
knowledge
skills listed.

Analyze the difference between adding

and subtracting fractions. When do you
add fractions? When do you subtract
fractions? You understand why you add
when you add and why you subtract
when you subtract.
Determine how to find the least
common denominator of unlike
fractions.
Apply what you know about how you
go about solving a problem. (All the
steps)

Only mastered
two of the
skills.

Only
mastered one
of the skills.

Students
presentation
was on the
correct task, but
did not
complete all
parts of the task
that were listed.

Students
presentation
was not
appropriate
for the task
they chose
and/or did
not complete
all parts of
the task that
were listed.

Students presentation was on the correct

task they chose and completed all parts of
the task that were listed.

TOTAL

Comments / score