[F. Katz]

Help! I need creative hands-on lesson plan for teaching equivalent fractions. Got any ideas?

[PrivateEyes]

I had paper plates that I marked for cutting. (halves, thirds, fourths, sixes and eights)
I had the children label the fractions on each section of the plate. 1/2 etc.

Then I had them work in groups to make as many equivilent fractions as they could out of those plates and then glue them to construction paper and write "Equivilent Fractions", then for example 1/2 = 4/8" I also made them write it in words: one half equals four eighths. Another teacher copied my idea, but her kids colored the plates to look like pizza slices, which was much cuter in the hallway than my plain old plates.

It would be easier to run off circles (and more accurate). I'd make them about 2-3 inches in diameter. Also, be sure to tell them only match one fraction type to another. Some kids tried to match one third and one sixth = one half (which is true, but...) Also, because of inaccuracies, some kids tried to do stuff like 5/8 = 2/3. So you have to watch them.

[WatchinWaves]

I have used Hersey Bars, oatmeal cream cakes, and twisslers to teach fractions. They have all worked well. The Hersey Bars were the easiest to use.

[Emily4th]

Any kind of food always works for my kids. Hershey's bars are perfect. I also have done Skittles and M&M's