Summer SAVY Session 4, Day 4, Fractions at Work
Day 4: Today, we combined all of our fraction understanding skills – equivalent fractions, simplifying fractions, improper fractions, making common denominators, and comparing fractions – to begin adding and subtracting fractions.
We began the morning with a fraction problem about Mountain Dew, which students claimed made them terribly thirsty for a glass of one! The Three Act Math problem created by Graham Fletcher is designed for high-ability learners to promote number sense, inquisitiveness, and collaboration, among many other skills. Students estimated and proved just how much Mountain Dew GFletchy drank in the videos.
Our book characters, Tori and Jordan, found some exciting items in the attic: records of purchases from their ancestors’ general store and copies of math puzzles.
The records of purchases included lists of fabrics. We used the same skills from our Mountain Dew problem to make bunches of fabric from the pieces equaling 1 yard for the town’s tailor. Students created sales posters showing their answers with pictures and fraction addition.
In our story, Tori and Jordan asked their grandmother about the puzzles; it turns out that their family used to play a game with the puzzles… those who can solve them correctly earned a “free pass” to skip a chore that night! Bad news parents because you’re mathematicians were EXPERTS at solving the Magic Square puzzles by the end of the day, and all our Fractions at Work students earned a “free pass” for tonight. 😊
I’m looking forward to another great day of exploring the attic and fractions together!
Warmly,
Ms. Whiting and Mr. Yiwei