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Equivalent Fraction Munch with Pizza Pie Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan #: AELP-ATH0029
Submitted by: Suzette Gudac
Email: gudas6h0@elon.edu
School/University/Affiliation: Elon College, NC
Endorsed by: Deborah Thurlow
             Assistant Professor of Education/Elon College/Elon College, NC 27244 Date: May 10, 1999

Grade Level(s): 4, 5


  • Mathematics/Arithmetic

Duration: 45 minutes to an hour Description: This lesson is the result of work completed in the class Mathematics and Science for Elementary Teachers at Elon College.
Lessons were prepared for and implemented in 4th grade classrooms at Haw River Elementary School, Haw River, NC.

Goals: Use concrete pictorial models to represent fractions and mixed numbers; relate symbols to the models. Use models and pictures to compare fractions including equivalent fractions and mixed numbers; explain the comparison.

1. Describe the importance of fractions in everyday life.
2. Define equivalent fractions and give examples.
3. Recognize fractions that are equivalent.
4. Manipulate materials to show several examples of equivalent fractions.

Materials: 5 Large poster board pizzas (one cut into 3rds, 4ths, 6ths, 8ths, and 12ths.) Small paper pizzas sliced into 12ths (for each student) set of fraction cards(1/4, 1/3, 2/3, 2/6, 1/12)/group pizza boxes for storing materials/group (I received free small

Procedure: Write the words equivalent fractions on the board. Have the students discuss what fractions are, and then discuss what they think equivalent means. Have students discuss real world situations where equivalent fractions may be important. (Our class has many Spanish speaking students, so we included Spanish terms, Fraccion Equivalente)

Three of the large pizzas (4th, 8th, 12ths) should be placed on the board. Have three students come to the board and stand in front of each pizza. The student with 4 slices should be asked to take 1/4 of their pizza, the student with 8 slices should be asked to take 2/8 of their pizza, and the student with 12 slices should be asked to take 3/12 of the pizza. They will then write the fraction of the pizza that they ate or took away.

This a great discovery activity where the class can compare the three pizzas and talk about what they observe. The class will discuss how they can tell that the fractions are equivalent, and strategies, such as grouping, that will help them recognize equivalent fractions.

Next, replace the pizzas with 4 and 8 slices with the pizzas with 3 and 6 slices. Have three more students come to the board and have these students each take 1/3 of their pizza. Students should be using the grouping strategies introduced to them.

Next, the class will be introduced to the activity of munching fractions through demonstration on the board using the large pizza cut into 12 slices. Teacher can draw fraction cards and then have students take that fraction from the pizza on the board. For example, if a student has the fraction card 2/3, then the student would group the pizza slices into 3 groups and see that they would take 8/12 of the pizza, which is equivalent to 2/3. Explain that the object of the activity is to eat all of the pizza quicker than your partners.

Next, divide students into groups of two or three and give each group a pizza box with a set of fraction cards and a bag of pizza pieces (each student should have 12 slices) Have students place the fraction cards in their pizza boxes.

Students take turns shaking the pizza box and drawing out fraction cards. The student must decide how much of their pizza is equivalent to the fraction on the card and eat that part of the pizza. Have students check each other. After each student decides how much of their pizza to eat, have them write down the equivalent fractions and draw a pictorial representation of each fraction. Then it is the next students turn. The activity continues in this manner until one student has eaten their pizza. Then students start over again.

Remind students that they must keep drawing at the end of the activity until they find a fraction that is equivalent. For example, if they have 1/12 of their pizza left, they must keep drawing until they select a 1/12 piece, or a fraction that is smaller.

Once students have finished the activity, have students place all materials back into pizza boxes.

(This activity can be extended to include other equivalent fractions such as 5ths, etc, by using an equivalent cake eating contest. In this activity a rectangle would be divided into equal parts. The possibilities are endless!)

Assessment: Have students review the equivalent fractions that were presented in the lesson: 1/4=3/12, 1/3=4/12, 2/3=8/12, 2/6=4/12, 1/12=1/12. Students will turn in the sheets that they were writing down their equivalent fractions on.

Teacher may also ask students concrete situational examples such as:

Tonight you are having pizza for dinner. The pizza has _____ slices. You mother gave you enough money for 1/4 of the pizza. How many pieces would you get? What fraction of the pizza would this represent?

Useful Internet Resources:

English-Spanish Math Terms