How to Introduce Fractions in the Fourth Grade

Introduce fractions with hands-on activities to help students succeed.

Fractions can be difficult for some students to understand. Educators should introduce hands-on activities to capture student attention and build understanding. Fourth grade students must learn that a fraction is part of a whole number. With the use of hands-on activities, students will be motivated to learn and develop essential problem solving skills.

Perfect Pies

Build interest in learning with an assignment based on delicious pies.

Explain to students that they will be playing a game in which they have to assemble a complete pie. Divide students into groups of three or four. Give each group six cardboard circles that can be found beneath a frozen pizza. Instruct students to color the circles to resemble various types of pie. Show students how to cut each circle into parts. For example, instruct students to cut one circle with scissors into fourths, another into thirds and yet another into halves. Students should continue to cut the pies into different fractions. Tell the groups to place the pieces inside a paper bag. Explain that students should take turns removing a slice from the bag. Tell students that they are only allowed to work on assembling one pie at a time. If the piece does not work with the pie they are creating, they must return it to the bag. The first player to assemble a whole pie is declared the winner.

Chocolate Bars

This yummy activity will help children stay focused on the lesson.

Jerry Pallotta's book "The Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar Fractions Book" has been a favorite resource for teachers wishing to build excitement when introducing the concept of fractions. Give each child a Hershey's chocolate bar. Begin by reading the book to students. Explain to the class that as you read they should break up their chocolate bars to resemble the fractions shown on the pages of this engaging book. By the end of the reading, students will have a strong conceptual understanding of how a fraction represents part of a whole.

Trail Mix Makers

Use measuring cups to help students understand fractions.

Tell students that they will be in charge of making a trail mix to enjoy on an upcoming picnic. Divide the class into small groups of about three students. Give each group various measuring cups. Place bags of marshmallows, chocolate chips and peanuts at the front of the room. Check to be sure that no children are allergic to these ingredients. Instruct students to take a fraction of each ingredient. Explain that they are not allowed to take a whole cup; however, they must think before they start measuring as they will be allowed to take 1/2 cup of one ingredient, 1/3 cup of another and 1/4 cup of the ingredient of their choice. Students will quickly learn that even though when written 1/2 seems smaller than 1/4, the 1/2 cup is much larger. They will be motivated to understand fractions as they create the perfect trail mix for their group to enjoy later during recess.

Fraction Mix-Up

Students will learn how to use pictorial representations for fractions.

Introduce fractions with a competitive matching game. Give students 20 index cards of the same color. Explain to students that using a permanent marker, they should create a match for each card. For example, on one card students should simply write the words "two-thirds." On the matching card students should draw a square with two-thirds of it shaded or show a circle shaded in the same manner. Students should continue making matches until every card has been used. Instruct students to play this game with friends by placing all of the cards face-side down. Students should take turns flipping over the cards. Players can keep the cards only if they find the match. The player with the most cards at the end wins.

References

• Education Resources Information Center: An Action-Based Research Study on How Using Manipulatives Will Increase Student Achievement in Mathematics
• Scholastic: The Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar Fractions Book