Introducing Fraction Concepts

This week we will explore books that can be used to teach fraction concepts. First up Fraction Fun by David A. Adler teaches the basic concept that a fraction is a part of something. In Apple Fractions by Jerry Pallotta different varieties of apples are used to demonstrate halves, thirds, fourths etc. Whole-y Cow: Fractions Are Fun by Taryn Souders introduces fractions both as part of a whole and part of a group.

Teaching Tip
Use apples to replicate the demonstrations in Apple Fractions. Not only are apples a healthy treat, they can easily be halved, quartered and compared.

Click here to have students explore equivalent fractions using an Illuminations activity.

Memorial Day Math

For some, Memorial Day is simply a 3-Day weekend that marks the unofficial kick-off for summer. Actually, the first Memorial Day observance was in 1868 when flowers were placed on the graves of soldiers in Arlington National Cemetry. You can use this Memorial Day to teach students the true meaning which is to honor those who have given their lives in service for our nation.

I do not have suggestions for math concept books today, but you can click here for a list of books about Memorial Day that you may find helpful.


Teaching Tip
For a math tie in, students can use fractions and geometry skills to construct a patriotic patchwork quilt using red, white and blue construction paper.

So Square

Thoughts of summer have me longing for the beach. Since I can't sink my toes in the warm sand just now, I'll have to enjoy Sea Squares by Joy Hulme instead. On the surface, Sea Squares might be mistaken for a simple counting or pattern book. Actually the rhymes are a great introduction to squaring numbers from 1 to 10.

Teaching Tip
Distribute grid paper and have the students create an array to represent the various animals found on each two-page spread. For example, ``8 `octos' on the ocean floor/ Have scrambled legs, 64.'' can be represented with an 8 by 8 square drawn on the grid paper. Guide the students to also express the representation mathematically as 8 x 8 = 64.

Lemonade for Sale

Yesterday we talked about class projects to raise funds for a class field trip. Stuart Murphy's Lemonade for Sale is a perfect follow-up. The children in the story want to raise money to repair their clubhouse and keep track of sales from their lemonade stands

Teaching Tip
Students can also use bar graphs to analyze data collected in their own fundraising efforts.

Field Trip

Here in Washington D.C. you can't go to any of the museums or historical spots without being surrounded by the swarms of excited children in town for spring field trips. While not every school can send students to the nation's capitol, there are just as many, if not more, great field trip destinations that are local. Whether traveling near or far, there is still the question of where the class will get the funds needed for transportation and other expenses. Planning the trip and raising the cash can provide for just as much learning as the trip itself.

Such is the case in How the Second Grade Got $8205.50 to Visit the Statue of Liberty.
It makes a great read-aloud.

Teaching Tip
After reading it lead a discussion where children share their own ideas for raising money or their own experiences with ventures such as lemonade stands or doing chores to raise cash. Have the students re-read the book keeping track of the profits and expenses. If your school allows, you class could launch their own fundraiser to collect monies to donate to recent disaster relief funds.

Getting Ready for Summer Fun

Today I am going to list a few titles of books filled with math challenges that are good recommendations for parents asking for ways to keep their children engaged in mathematics throughout the summer break.

The Everything Kids' Math Puzzles Book: Brain Teasers, Games and Activities for Hours of Fun is filled with games and trivia to keep children ages 9-12 using their math skills to solve riddles and puzzles all summer long.



Math Games for Middle School:Challenges and Skill Builders for Students at Every Level begins with basic operations and moves into plane and solid geometry, graphing, probability and simultaneous linear equations.

In addition to paper and pencil type puzzles, children can use a lot of math skill playing card and dice games.

Two books by author Charles Lund, Math Games Played with Cards and Dice, Grades K-1 and Math Games Played with Cards and Dice, Grades 2 and 3 is filled with age and skill appropriate games that promote computation skills, logical thinking and mathematical reasoning.

More on Measurement

Regretfully, I do not have time to flesh out more teaching ideas today. I will give you links to three more books that are useful when teaching measurement. I invite you to add your own teaching tips.

How have you used these titles in your math classroom?