Fraction Toast: The Best Activity to Introduce Fractions

Do you need a quick activity that will help your students understand fractions? 

This year one of our most successful (and best tasting) activities was Fraction Toast.

This activity only takes one hour and is perfect for students from 4th grade through middle school.

FRACTION TOAST

Numerator equal to the number of pieces of toast with jelly, avocado, peanut butter, etc.

Denominator equal to the number of pieces that the toast is cut into.

Our picture shows two-thirds.

Materials:  a toaster, bread, spreads (peanut butter, avocado, jelly), butter knife, paper towels, paper and pencil, camera

Method:

1. Decide on a few fractions to visualize.  Choose denominators that are easy to cut out!
2. Toast the bread.
3. Cut the bread into pieces equal to the denominator.
4. Apply spread to the number of pieces equal to the numerator.
5. Make a label using paper and pencil and place the label near the fraction toast.
6. Photograph your edible work of math-art.
7. Eat the Fraction Toast.

 This activity was designed by Limelight Education in San Diego!

 Square Foot Garden Updates:  MCS and Hammerhead123 will post later this week.  We have new growth, new pests and new seeds sprouting in our gardens!
 
SEE YOU NEXT TIME!!!  WBD

Square Foot Garden Math 5th and 4th Grade

Are you ready for some Square Foot Garden Math?

Here is the data from our gardens at 10 am today, May 19, 2010.

MCS average plant height:
Radish 2.8 cm
Basil 0 cm
Tomato 0cm

HammerHead123 average plant height:
Strawberry 11.1 cm
Radish 4.5 cm
Cucumber 3.9 cm
Beans 5.5 cm
Melon 0.0 cm
Tomato 3.7 cm
* The 0.0 cm data means that the plant didn't sprout.

4th Grade Square Foot Garden Math

(by MCS)

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN HEIGHT BETWEEN CUCUMBERS AND BEANS?

5.5 cm - 3.9 cm = 1.6 cm

5th Grade Square Foot Garden Math

(by Hammerhead123)

WHAT IS THE MEAN, MEDIAN, MODE AND RANGE OF ALL PLANT HEIGHTS?

MEAN: 2.8 +4.5+0+0+3.7+11.1+3.9+5.5+0= 31.5 cm

31.5/9= 3.5 cm

MEDIAN: 0,0,0,2.8,3.7,3.9,4.5,5.5,11.1 = 3.7 cm

MODE: 0

RANGE: 11.1-0= 11.1 cm

Thank you for reading our blog!

If you have any tips, please leave a comment!

Posted by WBD and Hammerhead123

The California Homeschool Blog

Welcome to the California Homeschool Blog!
by Limelight Education (San Diego, CA)


Limelight Education is a San Diego based homeschool and tutoring service. This blog is written by students and adults and will cover current homeschool projects and events.

Current Authors:
HammerHead123: He is a 5th grade student and an up and coming triathlete. Hammerhead recently placed 2nd in the 12-15 age group of the Spring Sprint Triathlon in San Diego.

MCS: She is a 4th grade student who single-handedly operates Happy Cat Rescue, a cat adoption service.

WD: He is a  homeschool teacher, tutor and the Director of Limelight Education

Today is Friday, April 30 and we are excited to start off our blog with an outdoor project: SQUARE FOOT GARDENING

Why are we doing this project?
To apply 4th and 5th grade standards to real world projects and to identify ways to grow more food in less space.

Please check back for posts by MS, KS and myself, WD.