Teaching students how to divide unit fractions by whole numbers can actually be fun! Just whip out the fraction strips and let them explore.
I like to start out this unit relating the fractions to candy bars or pizzas, something that they can visualize and understand. Discuss the idea that you only have 1/2 of the candy bar so you are starting with a fraction now and no longer a whole. Then have them visualize sharing that candy bar 1/2 with other people. In this case, 5 people are sharing it. So you ask yourself, "what fraction of the candy bar will each person get after dividing the 1/2 by 5?" The answer is 1/10. Be sure to remind your students that they are always relating the fraction back to the entire whole.
After playing around with the fraction strips my students really tend to grasp the concept and begin to see the patterns. Check out my teachers pay teachers store, here, for some fun task cards and activities relating to dividing fractions!!
I'm so excited to finally be starting this blog. I have had friends telling me for years now that I needed to start blogging about James and I's creations, my teaching life, home decorating ideas, cooking, baking, etc. So, here I am. I hope you enjoy our journey!
James and I are lucky enough to be friends with this amazing lady who owns an antique shop in Paige, TX. If you are traveling down highway 290 you need to stop and check out her place. On second thought, it's worth making a trip to Paige just for that. Well, and stopping at the Roadhouse to grab a juicy burger too. A couple months ago James and I were over helping her unload a truck full of old treasures when this "farm fresh" hutch came rolling off the back. I knew I needed it, although I had no idea where I would put it, but let's face it, you can make room for the perfect piece.
It needed a lot of TLC, dawn and a hose to get the "farm freshness" scent off. After scrubbing it down I noticed the white paint starting to chip and this beautiful teal color emerging from underneath. I knew I wanted more of this color! I began to chip away, with a screwdriver and a paint scraper, until my palms were red and blisters began to form. It still wasn't done after a few hours but I was loving the look of it. It took me about 5 hours to scrap it all off to my liking and then I had James pop the wooded door panels off and replace them with chicken wire from the local hardware store. I wanted something more to make it pop, so I added some decorative knobs that I got for 50% off at Hobby Lobby. Man do I love that store and their sales! When it was complete, I coated it with a little polyurethane for protection.
Whenever anyone comes to my house, it never fails that they are drawn to this piece. I love telling the story of the hard work and elbow grease I put in to making it beautiful once again and giving it a second chance.
