Different colors of play dough
Plastic cups or cookie cutters (for cutting out circles)
Plastic knives (for cutting play dough into fractions)
Colorful plates or work mats (optional)
Fraction labels or cards (optional, for additional practice).Preparation:
Provide each student with different colors of play dough, a plastic cup or cookie cutter, and a plastic knife.
Set up a colorful plate or work mat for each student to work on.
Introduction to Fractions:
Explain to students that they will be using play dough to create and explore fractions.
Demonstrate how to use a plastic cup or cookie cutter to cut out circles from the play dough.
Creating Fractions:
Have each student cut out several circles from different-colored play dough using the plastic cups or cookie cutters.
Instruct students to use the plastic knives to cut their circles into different fractions: halves, quarters, thirds, etc.
Show students how to cut a circle into halves by making one straight cut through the center, into quarters by making two perpendicular cuts, and into thirds by making two cuts at equal angles.
Exploring Equivalent Fractions:
Once the students have their fraction pieces, ask them to find and match equivalent fractions. For example, show that two quarters are equal to one half.
Encourage students to place equivalent fractions together on their plates or mats.
Creating Math Sentences:
Have students use their fraction pieces to create greater-than and less-than math sentences. For example, 1/2 > 1/4 or 2/3 < 3/4. Allow students to experiment with different combinations and discuss their findings with the class. Reflection and Discussion: After completing the activity, gather students to discuss their experiences. Ask students how using play dough helped them understand fractions. Discuss any patterns or observations they noticed while working with fractions. Extension (Optional): Introduce more complex fractions and have students explore equivalent fractions beyond halves, quarters, and thirds. Use fraction labels or cards to help students identify and compare different fractions.