Fish, Fraction, Fun!!!! Sorting, Counting, Recording Data,Graphing, Identifying Fractions, Adding Fractions, Part of a Whole ~~~ With Colored Goldfish Crackers Michelle Sturgill

Introduction It is every teacher's aim to reach or “catch” every student through various modes of instruction. While many teachers may try to use the “net” approach to help the most students understand key concepts it is almost always necessary to get a hold of the few that “escape” the cast of the net. Also, it is important to provide additional challenges and educational stimulation for “fish” that have mastered a task.

A Fishing We Will Go... Due to time constraints the fish for this learning activity have been brought in from a far away island...(called Target). We need to sort these fish (by color) in order to know how many of each fish we have. The colored goldfish crackers will be our manipulative. We will use this data to construct a graph, as well as to discern what fractional part of the whole “catch” we have.

Project Overview Associate the sorting/recording with separating the different “parts”. Understand all the parts add up to one whole. Visually represent fractions with Pie Charts and Bar Graphs.

Materials Colored Goldfish Crackers (1 bag per student). Clean surface for handling/separating food. Recording and Bar Graph forms. Computer with internet access.

Procedure Provide each student with a bag of colored goldfish crackers. Explain they will be allowed to eat the crackers after they have recorded the data. Students must separate their goldfish crackers by color and record data on forms provided.

Procedure (cont.) The student will create and color a bar graph on the provided form to see how each color represents part of the whole. The students will use a computer, the internet, and the website to create a pie chart that represents the fractional parts for each color goldfish in their data.

Data Students will display their data. Students will explain how their data represents a fraction. Students will express understanding that all of the fractions when added equal 1. Students will show understanding that fractions may be represented in various forms.

Conclusion Students will understand that their fractional representations are based upon how many of each color goldfish they have, as well as how many goldfish there are altogether.

Accommodations Students for a variety of reasons may not be able to independently participate in this activity. Peer buddies is an excellent way to include students who require accommodations.

Extension Students that successfully complete assigned tasks may be asked to convert the data into decimals. Another challenge is to have students explain how certain changes in their data may impact fractional outcomes.

Thank you For your attention and participation. SOL’s: 4.2, 4.5, 5.2, 5.6, 6.2, and