Multiplication and Division of Fractions Mini-Assessment

Author: Student Achievement Partners

  • Description
  • Files

This mini-assessment is designed to illustrate cluster 5.NF.B, which sets an expectation for students to apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to multiply and divide fractions. This mini-assessment is designed for teachers to use either in the classroom, for self-learning, or in professional development settings to:

  • Evaluate students' understanding of 5.NF.B in order to prepare to teach this material or to check for student ability to demonstrate understanding and apply these concepts;
  • Gain knowledge about assessing conceptual understanding of fraction multiplication and division; and
  • Illustrate CCSS-aligned assessment problems.

  • Making the Shifts

    How does this mini-assessment exemplify the instructional Shifts required by CCSSM?

    Focus Belongs to the major work of fifth grade
    Coherence Extends grade 4 understanding of multiplication of fractions by whole numbers to grade 5 understanding of multiplication of fractions or whole numbers by fractions
    Rigor

    Conceptual Understanding: primary in this mini-assessment

    Procedural Skill and Fluency: not targeted in this mini-assessment

    Application: not targeted in this mini-assessment

  • Noteworthy features of this resource
    • Mathematically:
      • Addresses the conceptual understanding described in 5.NF.B mostly using short questions that are either free of context or have little context
      • Connects the concept of fractions to division
      • Extends understanding of division to divide unit fractions by whole numbers and whole numbers by unit fractions
    • As a mini-assessment:
      • Assesses important concepts directly, like knowing that any fraction multiplied by a number greater than 1 will result in a product that is larger than the given fraction
      • Uses a mix of short conceptual problems with problems that require longer chains of reasoning
      • Offers item-level annotations for some of the problems describing how they assess conceptual understanding

Supplemental Resources