Fractions can be a tough concept at any grade, so I’m always looking for fun ways to teach them. A few months ago I decided to create a hands-on sorting activity with a penguin theme. I created activity cards with penguins having fractions on their tummies and matching fraction bars which can be printed on the backs of the penguin fractions. Visual models are important for concept development, so being able to flip a card over and see that the fraction looks like makes them even more effective.
As usual, what started out to be a simple activity quickly exploded into a whole collection of resources! I’ve now created lessons, task cards, games, and activities based on the Penguin Fraction theme. To learn more about them, download my free Clickable Guide to Penguin Fractions.
Equivalent Fraction Freebie
Would you like to try a Penguin Fraction lesson with your students? The Equivalent Fractions Sorting activity below is a free sample lesson from Penguin Fractions: Exploring the Basics, and it comes with the penguin fraction activity cards and sorting mat you see here.
This is just one of the many free resources I offer my email subscribers. If you’d like a copy, Â just click here and subscriber to Candler’s Classroom Connections. The welcome email will include a link to a page of freebies where you can find this resource.
Field Tested, Teacher Approved
One reason I’m excited about these new resources is the fantastic feedback I’m getting from teachers who have started using them. When I work on any new product, I share my early drafts with my “feedback team,” a group of teachers who try the resources out with their students and let me know what works and what needs to be tweaked.
Tami Terry tried the activity with several of her classes and snapped a picture of these 4th graders testing out an early version of the benchmark sorting activity. The directions call for students to work with a partner and take turns sorting fractions into three groups: less than 1/2, equal to 1/2, or greater than 1/2. As the students work, they are encouraged to talk over the reasons for each fraction card placement. The kids loved it and it helped them understand the concept of comparing fractions to benchmarks. The final sorting board included in Penguin Fractions: Comparing and Ordering ended up looking like the one below.
All of my Penguin Fraction products are aligned with Common Core State Standards for 3rd and/or 4th grade, but they can also be used for review with older kids. To find out which products can be used at each level, download my free Clickable Guide to Penguin Fractions. Or click the links below to find these products in my TpT store.
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