I am looking for a fraction game I believe is called "Race to A Whole." The object is to trade equivalent fraction pieces to be the first person to create the whole model. Any ideas?
Here are some games I play with my kids after they each make a fraction kit.
How to Make a Fraction Kit
(adapted from Marilyn Burns About Teaching Mathematics)
Use 5 different colors (I use yellow, blue, green, red, and pink) of long construction paper (12 X 18). Cut each piece of long construction paper into 4 strips (3 X18). Each child will need one strip of each color.
Have the students take a particular color (I use yellow), fold it in half, and cut it into two pieces. Have them label each piece at ½. Then choose the second color (I use red) and have them fold it in half, and then half again. Have them cut and label each piece as ¼. Then have them cut the third strip (I use blue) and label as 1/8 and the fourth strip (I use green) as 1/16. Leave the last strip (pink) whole and label 1/1.
Things You Can Do with the Fraction Kit
Compare Fractions
Order Fractions
Equivalent Fractions
Games to Play with a Fraction Kit
First: You can make a fraction cube using a die and colored dots. Write ½ on a yellow dot, ¼ on a red dot, 1/8 on two blue dots, and 1/16 on two green dots. Stick the dots to the die to make your fraction die. You will need one die for each group. All games can be played with partners or small (4-5 students) groups. Cover Up
This game can be played with two or more players. The object of the game is to be the first one to cover your entire whole (1/1) strip. Rules:
1. Students start with the whole (1/1) strip in front of them.
2. Student rolls the fraction cube.
3. The fraction on the cube tells them what piece to place on their whole.
4. No overlapping pieces are allowed. If the fraction you roll won’t fit on your strip, you lose that turn.
5. You have to fill your strip exactly. If you only have 1/16 left, ½ won’t do.
Uncover
This game is a good game to introduce equivalent fractions. Rules:
1. Students start with the whole (1/1) strip in front of them. They cover their whole strip with the two ½ pieces.
2. Student rolls the fraction cube.
3. A student has three options on each turn. They may remove a piece from the whole (only if they have the exact piece they rolled), they may exchange a piece (for example, they can take off a ½ and replace with one ¼ and two 1/8), or they may skip their turn.
4. If the student chooses to exchange on a turn, they cannot remove any pieces from the whole, they can only exchange equivalent pieces.
Put it in Order
Write 12 fractions on index cards, one fraction per card. Write them large enough for the whole class to see. Tell the students their job is to put the cards in order from least to greatest. Begin by placing an index card with the fraction ½ in the middle of your white board tray. Show the cards one at a time, each time asking the students where to place it. The students should use their fraction kit to make the fraction to find the order.
Here are sets of cards that work well with this activity. Avoid using equivalent fractions in this activity.
I also have my student play Fraction Tic Tac Toe, on a 4 x 4 grid filled with halves, fourths, and eighths. They have to make a whole with 3 fractions in a row. They love it!!! I'm not sure where the gamesheet come from, but I am sure you can make your own.
This is a difficult concept for third graders - they just can't seem to "get a picture" in their minds - for example: which is greater? 8/12 or 3/4. Once the are able to put them in simplest form or make a model. I am still working on a way to teach this so they can really understand it.
02-04-2008, 04:40 PM
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