Hand-on Fractions Activity: Improper Fractions and Mixed Numbers with Egg Cartons
About This Product
Hands-on Fractions Activity: Improper Fractions and Mixed Numbers with Egg Cartons is a perfect match for teachers of Grades 3 through 6. This resource aims to introduce improper fractions and mixed numbers to the students using an interactive, hands-on, visual, and practical method.
The interesting part of this lesson is its hands-on experience provided by a common household object: egg cartons! By making abstract fraction concepts tangible, this activity makes learning more accessible for all students.
How to Use:
Each group of students receives an empty egg carton, counters, and a worksheet for each member.
The class then collaboratively works through each specified amount of eggs (3, 6, 8, 14, 19, 30), step-by-step with the teacher's guidance.
Students place counters in their concrete eggs cartons, colour in the model on their worksheet, and then write the fraction. This is a great application of the Concrete, Representational, Abstract math teaching philosophy.
When possible, students reduce fractions to lowest terms.
When there are more than twelve eggs, students get a chance to write an improper fraction and the corresponding mixed number. By using these hands-on tools, the relationship between these two types of fractions should become more clear.
This activity offers ample flexibility both in terms of pace as well as delivery mode – it works equally well in a whole class collaboration setting, small group activities, or for individual seat work. It can be used in versatile ways!
What's Included:
A total of 3 pages in PDF format:
Title Page/Instructions
Worksheet
Sample Answer Key
Grades to Use With:
This lesson is perfect for students in elementary classes in grades 3-6 who are learning about improper fractions and mixed numbers.
If you enjoy this fraction activity, check out others in my store!
Elementary Math Centers or Stations: Equivalent Fractions Grades 4 and 5