Fun Fractions with Fruit Loops
Materials Needed: 1 snack pack or single serving cup of Fruit Loops (per student)
Suggested Use:
- Math Assessment
- Group Work
- Beginning of the Year Activity
- End-of-the-Year Activity
My students ALWAYS love this lesson with M&Ms! I successfully completed this activity using M&Ms with 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade classes. I thought Fruit Loops would be another fun idea.
- For 2nd graders and SPED classes, the directions were always read aloud and we completed the entire activity together step by step.
- With smaller 4th and 5th grade classes, I allowed students to complete the entire worksheet on their own as I would go around the room checking on their progress and understanding.
- With larger classes, I would recommend having students pair up in groups of 2 to complete the assignment together. Each student should still receive their own pack/cup of Fruit Loops and their own worksheet, but the following additional steps should be taken to ensure that all students understand the concept of fractions, numerators, denominators, etc.
Before students begin, instruct them to STOP and put their pencils down after STEP 3. Once all (or the majority) of the students have completed STEP 3, call on various students and ask them the following questions:
1. What fraction of your Fruit Loops are (color)? How do you know?
2. Does that color represent the numerator or the denominator?
3. What is a numerator?
4. What does the denominator represent?
5. Which Fruit Loop color represents the largest fraction? How do you know?
6. Which Fruit Loop color represents the smallest fraction? How do you know? (You could also ask another student: "Is he/she correct?"
Instruct students to answer the 2 questions in STEP 4 and when finished they should do the following:
1. Put your pencil down, stand up and push in your chair.
2. When both you and your partner have completed STEP 4 and are both standing with your chair pushed in, switch seats.
3. Sit down and DO NOT TOUCH your partner's Fruit Loops.
4. Review their answers in STEP 3 AND STEP 4 by looking at their groups of gummy bears.
5. Circle any incorrect answers.
6. When both you and your partner are finished reviewing STEPS 3 & 4, discuss your incorrect answers. If you disagree on a fraction, raise your hand and ask the teacher to review the work.
7. When you have finished reviewing the answers, put your pencils down, stand up and return to your seat to complete STEPS 5-7.
After students have completed STEP 7, you can ask them the same/similar questions like the questions asked after STEP 3. (optional)
Finally, they can all eat their Fruit Loops.