Next Question
RSS
Bring a waffle maker into the classroom.
You can teach ANY fraction lesson with a waffle maker.
Nothing gets kids into a lesson like food just before lunch :)
Help the kids make waffles and assemble them into fractions. The grid pattern on home made waffles is not only delicious but it delineates cut lines and equal proportions.
* Warning - the kids will complain about eating cold waffles. It takes time to make a bunch of waffles and explain (using a whiteboard) the lesson. Warm up a bottle of maple syrup in the microwave so that when the kids do eat the waffles that the syrup will warm them up.
"Waffle Maker Fractions" is a cross manipulative way to reach many different learning styles. You can get as creative as you'd like - I use to teach "enriched" / "extended" lessons by having some students place blueberries in the waffles to introduce basic cross multiplication and core algebra.
But, even in it's simplest form, cutting a waffle into 4 and illustrating the fractional equivalent and operations is effective.
Also, if you write into the folks who make waffle makers (or talk to your local mom-and-pop kitchen wear store), you'll be able to get one for free if you don't have one.
Source(s):
I was a classroom teacher before engaging my entrepreneurial spirit.
Permalink | Report
It strikes me that most board games have an element of statistics involved in its understanding chances of sucess and this would be a good way to engage the kids.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wire_(TV_series)
Permalink | Report
http://mathforum.org/paths/fractions/e.fraclessons.html
While this site offers Fraction games, including Fraction Card games, and even printable Fraction games.
http://www.learn-with-math-games.com/fraction-games.html
Hope this helps :)
Permalink | Report
Take a sheet of paper (I use a normal sheet of paper cut in half - hamburger not hot dog). If you were multiplying 1/2 and 3/4, you would draw a line to show 1/2. Color (dots, stripes, or lightly coloring works best) to show the fraction with one color. Then turn the paper a quarter turn and draw the other fraction going the other way. You should have created a grid in the process... Color in to demonstrate 3/4 with another color.
You should now have a grid with some of the boxes shaded two colors. Your answer is the number of boxes shaded two colors as your numerator and the total number of boxes as the denominator.
Source(s):
None - personal knowledge
Permalink | Report
Answered Question
M$3
April 17, 2009 09:09 AM
Can you help me find (or think of) fun, hands-on activities to help kids learn about fraction operations?
Specifically, I am looking for new activities (games, projects, anything!) to help my students with concepts like: finding equivalent fractions, adding and subtracting fractions, and multiplying fractions.
The activities can be individual or for a group-setting. I have lots of manipulatives and things of that nature (see photo) plus an enormous amount of art supplies so feel free to be creative!
http://www.calvertschool.org/engine/cal/images/dynamic/3042004201838_BegMathManip.jpg
The activities can be individual or for a group-setting. I have lots of manipulatives and things of that nature (see photo) plus an enormous amount of art supplies so feel free to be creative!
RSS
Best Answer Chosen by Asker
| April 17, 2009 12:05 PM |
You can teach ANY fraction lesson with a waffle maker.
Nothing gets kids into a lesson like food just before lunch :)
Help the kids make waffles and assemble them into fractions. The grid pattern on home made waffles is not only delicious but it delineates cut lines and equal proportions.
* Warning - the kids will complain about eating cold waffles. It takes time to make a bunch of waffles and explain (using a whiteboard) the lesson. Warm up a bottle of maple syrup in the microwave so that when the kids do eat the waffles that the syrup will warm them up.
"Waffle Maker Fractions" is a cross manipulative way to reach many different learning styles. You can get as creative as you'd like - I use to teach "enriched" / "extended" lessons by having some students place blueberries in the waffles to introduce basic cross multiplication and core algebra.
But, even in it's simplest form, cutting a waffle into 4 and illustrating the fractional equivalent and operations is effective.
Also, if you write into the folks who make waffle makers (or talk to your local mom-and-pop kitchen wear store), you'll be able to get one for free if you don't have one.
Source(s):
I was a classroom teacher before engaging my entrepreneurial spirit.
| Asker's Rating: |
• lots of great resources here, but this idea was the most creative and unique.
Permalink | Report
Reply
Other Answers (4)
April 17, 2009 10:00 AM
In season 4 of the Wire Roland Pryzbylewski has sucess teaching eigth grade students about fractions with card and dice games. It strikes me that most board games have an element of statistics involved in its understanding chances of sucess and this would be a good way to engage the kids.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wire_(TV_series)
Permalink | Report
Reply
April 17, 2009 11:06 AM
This site will greatly enhance the learning experience for kids wanting to know about fractions. It has all kinds of activites/procedures listed, as well as gives the resources/materials involved. http://mathforum.org/paths/fractions/e.fraclessons.html
While this site offers Fraction games, including Fraction Card games, and even printable Fraction games.
http://www.learn-with-math-games.com/fraction-games.html
Hope this helps :)
Permalink | Report
Reply
April 17, 2009 12:12 PM
+1 on the Fraction card games, Nad.
I figured out that sending home copies of fraction card games was a great way to help parents get involved. Cardstock is cheap (if not available in your supply closet)... just photocopy the sets of cards and cut with a paper cutter.
Write up brief instructions along with the educational reasons why playing the games are important. I also found that photocopying a feedback form and grading sheet was effective. Tell the parents that THEY get to mark this homework and let you know how it worked out. If I was doing it today, I'd likely build a web based feedback form (http://wufoo.com/) so that parents didn't have to send anything back.
Many parents forget (or didn't learn) about basic fractional mathematics. Playing a game like this encourages interaction at home and is a "non-worksheet" way to give homework in a fun way.
Report
I figured out that sending home copies of fraction card games was a great way to help parents get involved. Cardstock is cheap (if not available in your supply closet)... just photocopy the sets of cards and cut with a paper cutter.
Write up brief instructions along with the educational reasons why playing the games are important. I also found that photocopying a feedback form and grading sheet was effective. Tell the parents that THEY get to mark this homework and let you know how it worked out. If I was doing it today, I'd likely build a web based feedback form (http://wufoo.com/) so that parents didn't have to send anything back.
Many parents forget (or didn't learn) about basic fractional mathematics. Playing a game like this encourages interaction at home and is a "non-worksheet" way to give homework in a fun way.
May 03, 2009 11:06 PM
For multiplying fractions I find that a very simple activity works well - coloring. It demonstrates how multiplying fractions works and why you get a smaller answer than what you started with - since when you multiply whole numbers you get a larger answer. Take a sheet of paper (I use a normal sheet of paper cut in half - hamburger not hot dog). If you were multiplying 1/2 and 3/4, you would draw a line to show 1/2. Color (dots, stripes, or lightly coloring works best) to show the fraction with one color. Then turn the paper a quarter turn and draw the other fraction going the other way. You should have created a grid in the process... Color in to demonstrate 3/4 with another color.
You should now have a grid with some of the boxes shaded two colors. Your answer is the number of boxes shaded two colors as your numerator and the total number of boxes as the denominator.
Source(s):
None - personal knowledge
Permalink | Report
Reply
Answer this Question
Related Questions
Do you have any training program suggestions?
HELP! I'm trying to request my payment for this month and I'm constantly getting an e...
I am trying to move a Featured Object to the top of the page but I can't get it on to...
mix me up for a magic spell a piece of music that sounds swell an animakl thats a lit...
HELP! I'm trying to request my payment for this month and I'm constantly getting an e...
I am trying to move a Featured Object to the top of the page but I can't get it on to...
mix me up for a magic spell a piece of music that sounds swell an animakl thats a lit...
Ask a Question
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal
Top Members
Most Popular Tags
Categories
- Anonymous
-
Arts & Design
-
Beauty & Style
-
Books & Authors
-
Business
-
Cars & Transportation
-
Consumer Electronics
- Coupons Deals
-
Education
-
Entertainment
-
Environment
-
Fitness
-
Food & Drink
- From Email
- From Iphone
- From Twitter
-
Health
-
History
-
Hobbies
-
Home & Garden
-
How Tos
-
Humor
-
Jobs
-
Legal
-
Local
-
Love & Relationships
-
Mahalo Answers Community
-
Money
-
Music
-
News
-
NSFW
-
Parenting
-
Pets
-
Science & Mathematics
-
Services
-
Shopping
-
Social Science
-
Society & Culture
-
Sports
-
Technology & Internet
-
Travel
-
Video Games
Welcome New Members
- craftsutra, December 01, 2009 03:54 AM
- sureshapexbhand..., December 01, 2009 03:53 AM
- chelo, December 01, 2009 03:52 AM
- denise976, December 01, 2009 03:40 AM
- alexkreuz, December 01, 2009 03:30 AM
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.
Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.
Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More
This fun intro lesson helped quite a few students out back in the day.
Fractions are hard for some people to understand. I think that turning fractions into something tangible is a good solution. Some people use illustrations of pie to introduce the concepts, but you can go a lot further with real waffles!