Teaching Fractions with Yummy Pizza Pie
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The rate of success for learning fractions in elementary class math depend on the teaching method used. Some of these methods are outlined
here – simple to teach, and simple to apply. Having real life examples for students to connect with makes it easier for the brain to get into the right lane. Learners then have a good foundation in fractions to better understand how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide.
Most kids LOVE pizza, so make it fun and bring REAL pizza into the classroom, several if parents are okay with chipping in on the cost or if the principal authorizes this as a project. Or, do what we did, and bring in the ingredients, borrow the home economics room, and cook them right there in the classroom. If neither of these possibilities is viable, then divide the kids into groups of different numbers and ask them to draw a simple picture of a pizza on a piece of paper, with the number of slices drawn equal to the number of kids in their group.
Once the pizzas have either arrived, or are baked, cut each pizza into different numbers of sections. If it is real-life cooked pizzas, still have everyone draw first, a picture of their group’s pizza on their paper. Write underneath the pic the whole fraction of the total number of slices and the whole number that equals. How many for all the pizzas?
Divide the kids into groups, and ask each group to agree on what the fractions of the pizza are as the slices are being divvied up between the students. (For drawn pizzas, use scissors to cut the slices out and place them together into a whole pizza pie on their table. Have each student write down on a piece of paper, what fraction is “their” piece of the pizza – if their slice is the 3rd slice, and the pizza was divided into 8 slices, she / he writes down 3/8. Have the student, then answer what fraction of the pizza is left in the box (or on the plate). In reference to this example, the student would answer 5/8. As 8/8 – 3/8 = 5/8ths.
As everyone is then eating their pizza, (or pretend eating for those doing the drawn pizzas), discuss which number of their fraction is the denominator and which one is the numerator. Explaining of course, that the numerator of the fraction is the top number and the denominator of the fraction is the bottom number.
This is a most delish-ious way of teaching fractions in the elementary classroom. Or, for the drawn pizza class, a delish-ious idea to do first in class on paper, and then bring home to ask parents to cook with them.
Here is another one of our Fun Learning Pizza Games!
Yes thats an excellent idea to bring real pizza’s in the classroom! Kids will love it.
I let them bring in fruits while teaching mass. They have to estimate the mass first and then learn how to use a scale or balance! At the end of the lesson, of course eat ‘m up!
Kids were fullyengaged
Yum! Thanks Erik.