Fraction Action
Fraction Action|
Author: Loreen Leedy Publisher/Date: Holiday House, 1994 ISBN: 0-8234-1109-5 Grade Levels Recommended for Use: 6-8 Brief Summary: Miss Prime and her animal students explore fractions by finding many examples in the world around them. Topics: fractions, equivalent fractions, numerator/denominator, operations on fractions Suggested Activities: Fractions Provide each student with a piece of rectangular paper. Have them fold the paper in half. Explain that a fraction is a part of a whole. You have divided a whole piece of paper into two equal parts. Instruct students to color one of the two equal parts. Ask a student to write ½ on the board to show that one out of the two equal parts is now shaded. Introduce the vocabulary words numerator and denominator. The numerator is the number of parts shaded and the denominator is the total number of equal parts. Repeat the same activity with pieces of paper and coloring 1/4, 3/4, 1/3, 2/3, 1/8. Each time, a student should write the fraction on the board and identify the numerator and the denominator. Equivalent Fractions Ask students to fold a rectangular sheet of paper in half and color one of two equal parts. Ask what fraction of the paper in half is colored (1/2). Now have them refold the same paper and fold it in half once again. Unfold. How many equal parts now? What fraction is shaded (2/4 or 1/2). Since the amount of shading has not changed, this means that 1/2 = 2/4. Tell students that 1/2 and 2/4 are two names for the same amount. Therefore, they are equivalent. Now have students refold the papers and then fold in half a third time. Unfold. What new fraction have they found that is equivalent to 1/2 and 2/4? (4/8). These three fractions name the same amount. Fraction Fun Each student will receive construction paper: one whole piece, two halves, four fourths, eight eighths, paper clip, pencil, paper. The object of the lesson is to have the students clear the cards in front of them of all parts. To begin, cover the whole with all the pieces in order (halves first, fourths, next, etc.). Work through a whole game with students before allowing them to play in pairs. Partner A spins by placing the paper clip on the spinner, placing their pencil in the center of circle and " flicking" the paper clip. Whatever fraction the spinner lands on is what the student removes. The game continues until the whole is broken apart and the area is completely clean. As you play against the class, questions will arise confusions will clear. For example, if your spinner says 1/2 but the board is only covered with 1/8's the students may not be aware of how to remove one half. This will be demonstrated and discussed while the class plays together. After all questions have been answered and the students are sure of how to play, allow them to work in pairs. To close, have the students keep their boards. As you ask them about what they have learned, have them show you on their boards. Egg Fractions The students will be able to define fraction, numerator, and denominator. Materials: egg cartons or ice trays, and plastic Easter eggs or colored cubes. Tell students that the carton (or tray) represents the "whole". Ask the students to place enough eggs or cubes to represent the basic fractions 1/2, 1/3, 1/2, 1/6 and 1/12 (adjust for ice cube tray size). Record the fractions on the board. Explain how to record and read the fraction, introducing the terms "numerator" and "denominator." Ask students to place 8 eggs or cubes in the egg carton or ice cube tray. What fraction is represented by just looking? What simplified fraction is equivalent? Repeat the process by asking students to share their fractions and recording their answers on the board. Students may record their fractions on notebook paper. The Egg Fractions activity may also be used to demonstrate operations on fractions. Ask students to model 1/3 + 1/4 by using two colors of eggs in the same carton and "looking" at the answer. The same can be done with subtraction, multiplication and division. Websites: |