Kung Fu Fractions

I came up with a new hook to kick off, or should I say "chop off", my fraction unit.  I bought a karate outfit which I later learned from one of my fifth graders is called a "gi".  I had my husband cut several boards for me into equivalent fractions: halves, quarters, eighths, sixths and thirds.  I created a PowerPoint and had "Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting" playing while I modeled my newly acquired karate skills.  

I love teaching like a PIRATE.  The kids get so excited and are 100% engaged!!! 

Note to self: Take more pictures!!!  

I passed out sets of fraction bars.  I had the kids "chop" their bars into equivalent fractions.  We looked at patterns of the numerators and denominators.  We added and subtracted with common denominators.  I have to spend a lot of time reviewing fraction vocabulary and basic concepts of fractions before I can teach my standards.

We spent a week working on many skills; examples of fractions, making equivalent fractions, simplifying fractions, finding Greatest Common Factors and Least Common Multiples, changing Improper to Mixed and Mixed to Improper Fractions.  I used pages from my "Fifth Grade Interactive Notebook."

Here is a link to my Fraction Notebook.  

You can also get it in my complete notebook bundle.

 Plastic eggs are out in the stores. 

Here is a TBT post on changing Improper and Mixed Fractions.

 We are now adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators.  I passed out slices of pizza(from a game) and had the kids create whole pizzas.  They had to find students with unlike denominators.  They had to make equivalent fractions to add them.   My students are creating their own pizzas.

Decimal Place Value

We started decimals this week.  My first lesson was on 10x and 1/10 of numbers.  I pulled out my "Human Place Value for Big Kids" that is available on TPT.  The children have to move (10x , 100x, 1000x and 1/10 of, 1/100 of, 1/1000 of) and can see that multiplication is moving to the right of the digit and dividing is moving to the left of the digit.  This can be a tricky thing to explain.

TPT Link $4.00

Last year I made a slider tool for the children to practice with.  Please read my post from last year on how to make and use.

Link to post

Today we ordered decimals and put them on a ribbon, I tried paperclips which were too big so I ended up stapling.  Each child had a decimal card with tenths.  They had to get into order without talking.  I did the same thing with my next class but with new digits.   They had to get in order and then find their spots on the number line with the first class' decimals.  We will add decimals with hundredths and thousandths on the number line tomorrow.  (The cards are from Superteacher.com)

We are also working on comparing and ordering decimals and ways to write them.  I have some notebook pages available in my math notebooks.  

TPT Link for $15.00

TPT Link for $15.00

TPT Link for $4.50

TPT Link for $4.50

Using Sticky Notes for Long Division

I recently read a great post on ways to use Sticky Notes in Math Class.  I love sticky notes and can't resist buying them whenever I see them in the store!!!  They make me happy.

One way that I have been using them for the past week is teaching long division.  They help keep numbers lined up and the student can focus on one digit at a time.

Check out Mr. Elementary Math's Post for 10 Ways.  He has some original ideas and has templates to print and use with your class!

PEMDAS Hopscotch

I will be teaching Order of Operations this week.  After seeing Dave Burgess speak at our opening day, I have been motivated to "Teach Like a Pirate."  I would consider myself a pirate but have been giving it some extra effort this year.  There is always room for improvement.  

This week I will be teaching OA.1 and OA.2.  I will use my PEMDAS hopscotch boards, Order of Operation Shuffle, and a surprise visit from my Dear Aunt Sally.  Some people do not like gimmicks, but we need children to be excited about school and learning.  

I will teach the chant below with gestures for the kids to chant as

they hop down the board.  I will also have them hop as they solve equations.

Order of Operations, Evaluate Equations(2x)

Parenthesis and Brackets(2x)

Exponents with Powers(2x)

Multiply or Divide in the order that they come

Divide or Multiply in the order that they come

Add or Subtract, Subtract or Add

Doing Algebra is totally rad!

I bought 12x12 vinyl square floor tiles at Lowes.  70 cents a piece.  

I made 4 sets for my classroom.

I first printed out my signs on colored card stock.  (will hang)

I traced the letters on white copy paper and used them as stencils to trace on the tiles.

Click below for your free printable

Click for link 

 

 I used both the chisel marker,  both worked great on the tile.

I have a few notebook pages in my 5th Grade Interactive Notebook on TPT or my Multiplication, Division & Order of Operation Notebook for 5th graders that would be perfect for this lesson.

B2S with Freebie

School starts tomorrow for the teachers. My room is all set up, the boards are covered and name tags are on the desks.  I still have a million things to get ready but I am not worried.  It will get done.  I get to meet my new fifth graders during our Open Door Day in the afternoon.  I am very excited!

Our guest speaker tomorrow morning will be Dave Burgess.  Normally, we just listen to administration giving us the same old pep talk.  Not this year...I am thrilled to see him in the morning!  I have been dying to read his book "Teach Like a Pirate" and now I have to get it done before I see him. I borrowed a copy last week and I am in the middle of reading it right now.  

I can't wait to teach like a pirate and get the inspiration I need to make this year the best that it can be.

I spent my summer working on projects for TPT.  I have put endless hours into my computer.  I just finished My 4th Grade Math Interactive Notebook.  It is aligned to the Common Core and covers all math domains.  It is available as a bundle on TPT for $15.00.  Please visit my store and check out my products.

4th Grade Math Interactive Notebook

The bundle includes all four products listed below:  

Number Sense and Patterns $4.50

Multiplication and Division $4.50

Fractions and Decimals $4.50

 Measurement and Geometry $4.50

The domains have been broken down into smaller topics to fit into your curriculum.  We use Go Math in my district and this supplements the lessons.  I have many ELL and Inclusion students in my classes and find note booking a necessity.  I have been using notebooks for four years and find them a great resource for all my learners.  I made one resource that will make my own lesson planning easier!  

If you don't use notebooks, the pages can be used with your lessons.  Many of the pages can be printed in color on card stock, laminated and used as posters to display in classroom.  I hang them up as another reference for my students.

Here is a sample page:

Link for freebie

I will blog and post more details about my math notebooks during the school year.  

My 5th Grade Common Core Math Notebook

I spent my whole summer working on a resource that will fill all of your math notebooking needs.  

 My best product ever...

Now available on Teachers Pay Teachers.

5th Grade Math Interactive Notebook

It covers all fifth grade domains: Number Sense:Whole Numbers and Decimals, Multiplication and Division, Fractions, Measurement, Geometry and Volume, and Data.  The domains have been broken down into smaller topics to fit into your curriculum.  We use Go Math in my district and this supplements my lessons.  I have many ELL and Inclusion students in my classes and find note booking a necessity.  I have been using notebooks for four years and find them a great resource for all my learners.  I made one resource that will make my own lesson planning easier!  

If you don't use notebooks, the pages can be used with your lessons.  Many of the pages can be printed in color on cardstock, laminated and used as posters to display in classroom.  I hang them up as another reference for my students.

I moved to fifth grade last year and started teaching only math and science.  I have over 20 years of experience in third and fourth grade.  Focusing on two subjects will allow me time to become more knowledgeable about content and I plan to create more resources in these areas.  I am starting to work on science notebook units.

I will blog and post more details about my math notebooks during the school year.  My photos are a mock sample that I quickly put together.  I plan to take more photos of my students work as we create our books this year.

The notebook is available as a complete bundle for $15.00 (over 100 pages) 

I have also broken it into 4 smaller notebooks for $4.50 each.

Link to 5th Grade Notebook

Link to Fraction Notebook

Link to Multiplication,Division & Order of Operations

Link to Number Sense & Decimals

Link to Geometry, Measurement & Data

These are photos pages for each section.

A page for Order of Operations

A page for decimals