Minds On
Fractions in the world around us
We learned about fractions and dividing things, when the object that we are dividing is circular. Today we are learning about creating fractions when an object is a quadrilateral, perhaps a rectangle or a square.
4 friends are sharing 8 squares of chocolate. How many squares of chocolate will each friend get? What if there were 6 friends sharing 8 squares of chocolate? How many would each friend get?
This chocolate has been divided into 8 pieces.
If you eat two of the pieces of this chocolate, you would have eaten two-eighths of the chocolate bar, but you would have six-eighths left. If we put those two fractions together, we would get one whole chocolate bar.
What two different fractions can we make that would add to one whole? Think of two different fractions using this chocolate bar. Think of how piece(s) have been eaten and how many piece(s) are left.
Action
Activity – At the sandwich store
You have been asked to help out at a sandwich store during lunchtime. The owner needs help with the prices for the menu. One whole sandwich costs $6.
When sandwiches are being bought for kids, parents always want smaller pieces because their kids can’t eat the whole sandwich! For example, a family of three wants two sandwiches cut up so that everyone in the family gets the same amount. How much of a sandwich does each family member get?
How much is it?
- How many equal pieces did you cut your sandwich into?
- How much is each piece worth?
- How much would one-half of the sandwich cost?
Consolidation
Music fractions
In Music classes, you may have learned about the whole note, half note, quarter note and eighth note. Let’s review these notes first. Access the video “Take Note of Musical Fractions” to learn how to break down a song by counting how long the notes last. It is musical fractions!
Now flip through this carousel and think about how a note can divide a measure of music.
Here is a picture of a whole note. You can sing it for four beats, like “ta-a-a-a.”
Here is a picture of a half note. You can sing it for two beats, like “ta-a.”
Here is a picture of a quarter note. You can sing it for one beat, like “ta.”
What do you notice about the length of each note?
How can you divide this chocolate bar into half and then quarters? How many pieces would half a chocolate bar be? How many pieces would a quarter of a chocolate bar be?
Press the ‘Hint’ button to reveal a hint.
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel...
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.