Math is all around us, and fractions are important tools for preschoolers. Any complete group can be considered a whole unit, and each equal part of that group is a fraction of the whole. Keep in mind that being an equal part may not mean being an equal size, color, or shape, however, allowing the expression of concepts like “three-fifths of the rubber balls are red.” Family As Fractions - Every preschooler’s family can be expressed as a single unit or broken down into fractions. Examples might be things like “¼ of a family of 4,” or “boys make up three-fifths of the family.” Similar activities can be done with favorite items like toys cars or plastic farm animals. In many ways, fractions are another way to perform sorting and grouping, and can initially be presented as such.
Sharing is Caring - Fruit slices and cookies are perfect for visually expressing fractions. The bag of cookies is a whole unit that can be broken into smaller parts for easy sharing. Similarly, cutting a pie shows a tactile graph of the whole and any fractions that get removed from the pie plate. Preschoolers can also help out in the kitchen, learning to pour a half cup of milk, or a quarter cup of rice so they can see exactly how fractions are applied in practical experience. Edible Fractions - On the subject of eating our math, fresh fruits and vegetables are perfect for slicing into delicious fractions, and some fruits are naturally divided into segments that are fractions of the whole fruit. Citrus, grapes, and cherries are well suited for division and fractional expressions, but you can also slice a banana, or apple into equal parts as well. In a classroom where fractions are presented as a lesson in a textbook, they can be challenging or unintentionally frightening to work with. In reality, fractions are used every day, in many different ways. By teaching to use them in practical exercises, not only is it easier for kids to learn how they work, but they are also better prepared for retention of the skills over long periods of time. Comments are closed.
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