How to Teach Fractions With Craft Sticks

Teaching fractions can be made easier when you add fun to process. Using your imagination, you can make fraction craft sticks. Kids will learn fractions without feeling manipulated into boring instructions. This tutorial will help you teach fractions using craft sticks.

Things You'll Need

• Craft Sticks
• Sharpie Markers

Instructions

1. 

   Make fraction sticks. Make your first set of sticks by writing the word “fractions” in the middle and writing the same fraction on each end. Fractions you should can use are ½, 1/3, ¼, 1/5, 1/6, 1/7, 1/8, 1/9, 1/10, 2/3, 2/5, 2/7, 2/9, 3/4, 3/5, 3/7, 4/5, 4/7, and 4/9. You don’t have to start out using all of these, you can choose to use only the most common fractions. Color-code the back of the stick with a marker to so that all fraction sticks have the same color on the back.

2. 

   Make pie chart sticks. On the next set of sticks draw a pie chart on the ends and a bar chart down the center to represent each fraction (as shown in the illustration).

3. Play concentration. Place all of your stick face down on a table and play a game of concentration with the children. They must turn over the sticks, from one set at a time, and then attempt to turn over corresponding sticks. When they get it right, they keep the set. When the child can play this game quickly and easily, they should know how to convert factions to decimals and percentages.

4. 

   Make percentage sticks. Once you child understands fractions, you can teach them to convert fractions to percentages. To practice this skill make another set of sticks. On the next set of craft sticks write “Percentage” down the middle and on each side, write a percentage amount that coordinates with a fraction card you have made out. Percentages will include 50%, 25%, 33% 20%, 66% and so forth. There should be a percentage stick made out for every fraction stick. Color code the back of the fraction sticks with a different color.

5. 

   Make decimal sticks. Likewise, you will make sticks that represent decimals in the same way. Write “decimal” down the center and the corresponding decimal to the other numbers on the same end starting with .5, .25, .2, .33, and so forth.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also use these sticks as flash cards to drill your student.

• Don't force a child to play. Encourage them through making it fun.