Fraction Games with Food in the First and Second Grades

Food games, such as identifying food fractions, are fun and keep the classroom atmosphere light and upbeat.

Fractions can be difficult concepts for children to learn at any age. Using real-world items helps convey the abstract concept of fractions. All children love food, so using food in the classroom can instantly engage them at either the first- or second-grade level.

Pizza Fractions

Break students into groups of three or four. Provide each group with a cardboard pizza that has been cut into 12 slices. Give students toppings made out of construction paper. Red circles can represent pepperoni, green slivers can be green peppers, and so on. Provide students with a scenario, such as "Johnny ordered a pizza that is one-half pepperoni and one-third green peppers." Have the students create the pizza, then check to see if the fractions are correct. Change the game to include scenarios such as, "Jenny ate one-third of the pepperoni pizza slices." Provide a small prize (black olives, perhaps, in the spirit of the game) to the winner.

Candy Fractions

Break children into small groups. Prepare sandwich bags filled with M&Ms or Skittles candies. Each group should have the same number and the same ratio for all colors. Let the groups organize the candies before playing. Ask questions such as, "Yellow M&Ms make up what fraction of all the M&Ms?" Have students write their answers on small dry-erase boards. Give the winners small tokens, such as erasers and pencils. At the end of the assignment, have the students determine the fraction each student receives in candy.

Identifying the Food Fraction

For this game, prepare flashcards made out of food that can be presented on an overhead projector. Have two students approach the board and display one of the flashcards. The students then need to write the fraction on the board. Another option is for the flashcard to suggest the fraction and food the student is to draw. For example, "Shade in 1/4 of a pizza with four slices." The first student to write the correct answer is the winner. Create a tournament-style game with brackets for both winners and a second chance bracket so that students get practice identifying and writing fractions.

Recipe Game

Have students discuss some of their favorite foods, such as spaghetti and meatballs or chocolate chip cookies. Look up some recipes, then create construction paper ingredients for some of the recipes. Provide different fractions, such as 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce or 1 cup spaghetti sauce. Break the children into small groups to create a full meal with dessert for the principal. Students must find all of the ingredients from a basket and prepare the meal. Each group must use the correct fraction of ingredients for what they are assigned. The first group to complete the meal is the winner. Once all of the groups have finished, provide a healthy snack to all of the students.

References

• Teachers: #262. Teaching fractions & ratios with M&Ms
• Math And Reading Help: Hands on Fractions Lessons
• A to Z Teacher Stuff: Fraction Fun with Food