Lesson Plan #: AELP-ATH0202
Monstrous Math
An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan Submitted by: Stephanie Boney
Email: horsecollecter@hotmail.com
School/University/Affiliation: Armstrong Atlantic University
Date: April 20, 2001
Grade Level: 4, 5, 6
Subject(s):
- Mathematics/Arithmetic
- Language Arts/Writing
Duration: 45 minutes
Description: In this lesson, students use fraction circles to create a "fraction monster." Students practice their skills in adding fractions with unlike denominators. The activity also provides an opportunity to integrate creative writing into the math curriculum.
Goals:
- Students will be able to add fractions with unlike denominators.
- Students will use their creative writing skills to construct a short story.
Objectives:
- Students will be able to create a "fraction monster" using at least four different types of fraction circle pieces (halves, twelfths, thirds, etc.).
- Students will be able to add the fractions in their "fraction monsters" to arrive at a total value.
- Students will be able to write a creative short story about their "fraction monsters."
Materials:
- Ellison cutouts of fraction circle pieces [each type of fraction (halves, thirds, fourths, etc.) should be a different color]
- white sheets of construction paper
- glue
- pencils
- paper
Procedure:
Review the addition of fractions with different denominators. Write a couple of problems on the board, and review how to find a common denominator. Inform students that they are going to do some "monstrous math problems" today. Put the box of Ellison cutouts in a central location. Explain that the cutouts represent fractions of whole circles (you may want to sketch a couple of examples on the board -- one circle divided into thirds, another circle divided into sixths, etc.). Let students know that each color represents a different fraction (ex. a yellow piece is 1/2, a red piece is 1/4, etc.). Ask students to use at least four different types of fraction circle pieces to create a "fraction monster." Students can glue their pieces on a sheet of white construction paper. Remind students to put their names on their papers.
After students have created their monsters, they should add up the fraction values that they used. Students should record their work on a piece of paper (to be collected later). Ask students to share their results to see who has a monster made up of the most whole circles and who has a monster made up of the least whole circles. [ Author's Note: The teacher may want to award "prizes" to the student with the highest fraction value and the student with the lowest fraction value.]
To tie this activity to language arts, have students write a creative short story about their monsters. [ Author's Note: I had my students write stories related to space exploration, since that was a topic we were studying in science. I also had the class vote on the most creative story.] Remind students to check their work for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Assessment: Collect and display students' "fraction monsters" and stories. The teacher should collect students' computations to check for accuracy in adding unlike denominators. The teacher should also review students' stories for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
Useful Internet Resource:
* Ellison Homepage
Browse/search through their online catalog.
http://www.ellison.com/