Investigating fifth-grade students’ conceptions of fractions on the number line

Abstract

In this study, clinical interviews focusing on students’ understanding of fractions as numbers on the number line were conducted with six fifth-grade students both before and after an intervention designed by teacher-researchers. Although in general students demonstrated improved understanding of fraction concepts even in situations requiring reversible thinking, difficulties in finding benchmarks on the number line and a limited awareness of density of fractions on the number line persisted among students.