Fractions Games for Children
Studying fractions can be difficult for students. Spend time planning lessons that are informative and engaging. Use hands-on activities to help students maintain focus, build interest and have a more positive attitude about mathematics. Show students that fractions can be fun with exciting games and activities they will enjoy time after time.
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Fractional Pizza
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Students will learn about equivalent fractions with this game. Students will enjoy playing a game with another student to learn more about fractions. Gather six cardboard circles found on the bottom of a frozen pizza. Using permanent markers, decorate these to resemble pizzas. Divide each circle into different parts, for example, cut one pizza into halves, another into thirds and yet another into fourths. Continue this pattern until you have sliced all the pizzas. Place these slices inside a paper bag. Explain to students that they should take turns drawing a slice from the bag. They can only work on assembling one pie at a time. The first person to successfully assemble a pizza wins. The pizza must be a complete circle.
Slapstick Match-Up
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Build excitement with a competitive fraction game. Increase involvement by using a fast-paced mathematical review game. Gather colorful index cards or squares cut from construction paper. Write a fraction with a bold marker on every index card. Tape these cards to the board. Divide the class into two groups. Choose one player from each team to go first. Give each player a fly-swatter. Read students a sentence that contains a fraction. For example, say, "Sally ate one half of her brownie. What fraction is equivalent to one half?" The first player to guess a correct answer earns a point for his team. Students will then hand the fly-swatter to the next player. This continues until every player has had at least two chances. The team with the most points at the end should earn a small reward.
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Cookie Chaos
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Students will practice fraction skills with a cookie activity. Give students a chance to bring cooking into the classroom. Read this scenarioout loud: "Bob wanted to make his favorite cookies. He went into the kitchen to find that his dog had chewed up the measuring cups and spoons. Rewrite the recipe using equivalent fractions to help Bob make the cookies." Divide the class into groups of three or four. Guide students as they choose a cookie recipe from various cookbooks. Monitor progress and understanding as they attempt to change the recipe. At the end, have the groups present their new recipes to the class. If desired, reward the students with a sweet treat.
Clay Fractions
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Students can gain a better understanding of fractions with this clay-based activity. Students enjoy using their hands to model fractions. Begin by covering each desk with wax paper. Give every child a plastic spoon and some modeling clay. Ask students to roll the clay into a ball. Then instruct students to cut the ball in half using the end of the spoon. Walk around the room and observe the students' progress to check for understanding. Continue to give instructions for the children to separate the clay into various fractions. Later have students smash the clay onto the desk. Again give instructions to the students about how they should cut the clay into different fractions.
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References
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