Split candy

Introduction

With the challenge of the candy split children will express their intuitive knowledge on fractional numbers, will understand the equivalence between fractions and will be able to perform additions of fractions with different denominator.

First level let’s distribute candy!

Preparation

Construct a square using rectangle triangles. Choose five pieces and one divided in four bits from the material. Keep the bits out of the sight of the children.

Procedure

  1. Tell the children: these they are four kids, we are going to distribute candy.
  2. Give the child five pieces and tell them: these are the caramels, distribute them among the children.
  3. The child will distribute them but will have one left. Intuitively she will place it on the centre. Probably she will doubt a bit, but if she puts if she places two pieces on one square we will say Why two candies for this kid? Children already have a notion of fractional numbers and the adult just helps the process.
  4. The facilitator can help to the development of the language by saying: Well, one candy for four children, one divided by four.
  5. The facilitator delivers all four bits so that the child compares and distributes the "split candy".

Second level. Delivering candy to other children

The expressed ability can be generalized and amplified. The Tetrakys material has pieces divided in halves, thirds, fourths and sixths. Polygons are built using triangles of diverse colors that represent the fractions (view examples on the gallery).

Procedure

  1. Ask: how many children do we have here? . Tell the children to distribute the candy
  2. For school children, the adult can develop a language saying: one for three, one by three, a part, a third.

Third level for school children. Splits that are equal

Children will play with different combination to identify that blue pieces represent one half, red pieces one sixth, and yellow green one third (see diagram).

Children should understand by separating the elements that 3/6=1/2 or 2/8=1/4.

Fourth level for school children. Joining pieces of split candy

In this level the children already understand how to perform an addition of fractions with a single table. For an example, look at the composition. The green part is one fourth, the yellow three eights, the blue one a two eights and the red one an eighth.

Play with the school children asking If we add one fourth green plus one eight red what do we have? The children will be able to answer three eighths. The child can move around the pieces to understand.

It is suggested that the child should play with several combinations and should manipulate widely these games before seeing a fractional number or realize the written algorithm.