Monstrous Math

NAME: Erica Sims

Grade Level(s): 5

Subject(s):

• Mathematics/Arithmetic
• Language Arts/Writing
• Technology

Description: In this lesson, students use fraction circles to create a "fraction monster." Students
practice their skills in adding fractions with unlike denominators. The activity also provides an
opportunity to integrate creative writing into the math curriculum. The student will

Goal: Students will be able to add fractions with unlike denominators and use their creative
writing skills to construct a short story.

National/State Standards:

1e. Model and identify equivalent fractions including conversions of improper fractions to mixed
numbers and visa versa.

NETS –S Standards:

1. Use keyboards and other common input and output devices ( including adaptive devices
when necessary) efficiently and effectively.
2. Use technology tools (multimedia, authoring, presentation, web tools, digital cameras,
scanners) for individuals and collaborative writing, communication, and publishing
activities to create knowledge products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.

Objectives:

The students will:

1. create a "fraction monster" using at least four different types of fraction circle pieces
(halves, twelfths, thirds, etc.).
2. add the fractions in their "fraction monsters" to arrive at a total value.
3. write a creative short story about their "fraction monsters."
4. create a story board for their fraction monsters and short stories

Materials:
 • Ellison cutouts of fraction circle pieces [each type of fraction (halves, thirds, fourths, etc.)
should be a different color]
• white sheets of construction paper
• glue
• pencils
• paper
• poster board
• computers
• construction paper
• scissors
• digital camera

Procedures:

Activity One (notice that the first part include the Teacher’s procedures/actions and the second
part consists of Students’ procedures/tasks to complete the activity)

1. Teacher will prepare the classroom for the activity by collecting required materials and
resources for students to use for the hands-on activity.
2. Teacher will develop instructional materials for the lesson activity (e.g., overheads).
3. Review the addition of fractions with different denominators. Write a couple of problems
on the board, and review how to find a common denominator. Inform students that they
are going to do some "monstrous math problems" today.
4. Put the box of Ellison cutouts in a central location. Explain that the cutouts represent
fractions of whole circles (you may want to sketch a couple of examples on the board --
one circle divided into thirds, another circle divided into sixths, etc.). Let students know
that each color represents a different fraction (e.g., a yellow piece is 1/2, a red piece is
1/4, etc.).
5. Ask students to use at least four different types of fraction circle pieces to create a
"fraction monster." Students can glue their pieces on a sheet of white construction paper.
Remind students to put their names on their papers.
6. After students have created their monsters, they should add up the fraction values that
they used.
7. Students will record their work on a piece of paper (to be collected later).
8. Ask students to share their results to see who has a monster made up of the most whole
circles and who has a monster made up of the least whole circles.
9. Then, have students write a creative short story about their monsters on paper to be
presented to class and later pasted to a class poster board for everyone to see. Students
will vote on whose story is the best.
10. Remind students to check their work for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
11. Teacher will collect and display students' "fraction monsters" and stories, and check for
accuracy in adding unlike denominators.

Activity Two
 • The teacher will prepare the room by turning on all of the computers for the
students to use.
• The teacher will explain to the students that they will be creating story boards for
their “fraction monsters”.
• The teacher explains that the students should type their stories on the computers
and use construction paper and pictures from digital cameras to create scenes
from their stories.
• The children will use the computers to type their stories about their “fraction
monsters” on Word.
• They will then use digital cameras to take pictures of their “fraction monsters”
and create scenes to go along with their short story.
• The students will create scenes using their “fraction monster”, and some
construction paper.
• The students will also use the computers to print these pictures out.

Assessment/Evaluation:

Activity One

The fraction monster activity will be evaluated using a 5 point rubric (1 being the lowest
score) on these criteria: participation, accurate calculation, and problem-solving.

The short story activity will be evaluated using a 5 point rubric (1 being the lowest score)
on these criteria: participation, creativity, and presentation style.

Activity Two

The story boards will be evaluated on a 15 point rubric ( 1 being the lowest score).
10 points-story typed and pictures of some story scenes (at least 3)
5 points- creativity and grammatical correctness