Pumpkin Pie Fractions

Remember our pumpkin pie craft from stART last week? After leaving them on the table, for several days, for the girls to enjoy, I decided it was time to recycle them into simple, math manipulatives.

First, before the girls got up, I replaced the plastic bag, whipped cream, with a flatter paper version.

Then, I cut one of the pies into various sized pieces, from 1/2 to 1/16, writing the fractions on the bottom.

I, also, wrote out the fractions, nice and big, on two "menus", so when they got up, the girls could order a slice of their pie, to go with their breakfast.

Of course, the trick for this sort of thing, is to keep older brothers, and sisters from telling the secret of fractions. Left to their own devices, younger children will usually pick the fraction with the largest denominator, thinking they will get the largest piece. My children were no exception

Then, they were surprised, when the tiny piece was served, instead. When it comes to fractions, a bigger denominator, means a smaller piece of the whole - lesson learned.

Now, they can head off with their slices of pie, to play coffee shop, on their own, wiser to the world of fractions.

For more fun with math, check out this weeks Math Monday link-up, hosted by Joyful Learner.

It's great to be a homeschooler.