TITLE: MARS FRACTION HUNT
AUTHOR: Paul T. Williams, Vanguard Honors Program, Phoenix, AZ
GRADE LEVEL: Appropriate for grades 3 - 5.
OVERVIEW and PURPOSE: This lesson is designed to give the students
practice in the use of fractions, changing fractions, using equivalent
fractions, and paying attention to detail. This lesson works well at fourth
grade level, but I find it can have good use with advanced third graders.
OBJECTIVES: The student will be able to:
1. Divide a word into appropriate fractional parts
2. Use equivalent fractions to correctly divide words
3. Pay attention to details in instructions relating to "first, "last",
"second", etc.
4. The student will analyze the clues and decode the message.
RESOURCES/MATERIALS NEEDED: A MARS candy bar, classroom globe (on a
small stand or cradle), activities paper. Before the activity, the MARS bar
should be hidden under the classroom globe. The ANSWER KEY for the
activity is:
FOR THE FIRST ONE TO FINISH THIS THERE WAITS A PRIZE IF YOU USE YOUR
HEAD PERIOD CLUE MARS IS DIRECTLY BENEATH THE SOUTH POLE PERIOD GO
LOOK
ACTIVITIES: (See "Resources/Materials Needed" for necessary preparation
and activities page) The student will write the appropriate parts of the
words on the line to form a new word. When the message is complete, the
first student to decode the message will be rewarded by finding the
hidden candy bar (MARS bar).
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER: After the winner has claimed his prize, the
assignment should be reviewed. During this exercise, many of the
students claim that "no such words exist." This is where it is necessary
for them to pay attention to the details of the instructions. Usually the
brighter students will be the ones to win; in that case, the teacher could
team the students into pairs or small teams--if this is done, it is best to
be sure to have a MARS bar available for each winning team member.
FRACTION HUNT
1. The first half of food + the last
quarter of door.
____________________
2. The last third of hat + the first
2/5 of heavy.
____________________
3. The second 1/3 of office + the last
1/4 of door + the first 1/3 of street.
____________________
4. The last half of go + the last
1/2 of done.
____________________
5. The last 1/8 of elephant + the
first 1/5 of order.
____________________
6. The first 3/4 of fine + the last
3/4 of dish.
____________________
7. The last 1/6 of cement + the
first 3/7 of history.
____________________
8. The last half of bath + the first
1/3 of end + the last 2/7 of require.
____________________
9. The first 2/5 of water + the last
3/4 of fits.
____________________
10. The last 1/6 of Glenda.
____________________
1. The first 1/3 of principal + the
first half of zero.
____________________
12. The first 1/7 of instant + the first
third of fat.
____________________
13. The first 2/5 of young + the first
1/10 of understand.
____________________
14. The first 1/4 ugly + the first 1/5
of settlement.
____________________
15. The first 1/4 of youthful + the last
half of pour.
____________________
16. The first 1/4 of hesitate + the last
2/3 of sad.
____________________
17. The first 1/3 of permanent + the first
half of iodine.
____________________
18. The first 2/6 of clover + the last
2/4 of blue.
____________________
19. The first 1/4 of Mark + the last
3/5 of stars.
____________________
20. The last 1/4 of Meri + the first
1/5 of Susan.
____________________
21. The first 3/5 of dirty + the last
3/7 of perfect + the first 2/5 of Lynda.
____________________
22. The first 3/4 of bent + the last
2/3 of breath.
____________________
23. The first 1/3 of Thomas + the first
1/8 of Endicott.
____________________
24. The first 3/5 of sound + the last
2/9 of Aylsworth.
____________________
25. The first quarter of positive + the
first two thirds of Lee.
____________________
26. The first 4/9 of periscope + the
last 2/5 of blood.
____________________
27. The first third of get + the second
fourth of Jody.
____________________
28. The first half of loud + the last half
of book.
____________________
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