A Pleasant Surprise
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 | Random Thoughts
‘Twas a fun day in Intro. to Algebra today! We have just started a new unit on fractions. Before manipulating fractions (like adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, and simplifying), we must first understand what a fraction is. Yesterday we created fraction strips, and last night for homework the assignment was to fill in a fraction array. I wanted the students to understand equivalent fractions pictorially. Fraction arrays show equivalent fractions (1/2 = 2/4 = 3/6, etc. or 3/4 = 6/8 = 9/12, etc.). So, using our arrays we played a game called “Fish for Equivalent Fractions.” The kids *loved* it! Even my students who give up easily and don’t like playing games were playing! The game is basically the card game “Go Fish.” They were so into it! They were using their arrays searching for equivalent fractions. Needless to say, I was very pleased. It makes me happy when my students play and enjoy the games I spend 2 hours cutting out and preparing for them the night before. (-:
Thursday’s game is called “Frack Jack.” It’s not a game I made up, but a game I bought at an amazing teacher resources center in San Jose called Raft. It’s a fraction game based on the card game Black Jack. Instead of shooting for “21,” however, the students will try to make “one whole” using fraction parts. It should be lots of fun!
To my fellow “math geeks” out there, I know you understand the excitement math can bring. For the rest of you, dear readers, thanks for reading my post anyway.
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