Fractions with Olaf!

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1 -2 grade math (used for Math Blast)
50 minutes (9:30-10:20)

I. TOPIC – Equal fractions

II. OBJECTIVE – Following teacher instruction, snowman fraction activity, and cookie
decorating activity, TSWBAT understand and compare equal fractions
III. TEACHING PROCEDURES
Anticipatory Set
a. Show YouTube clip of “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” from Frozen
b. Have Olaf cut-out hanging on board
c. “I bet a lot of you didn’t get to make a lot of snowmen this year since we haven’t
had a ton of snow! But that’s okay, because today we’re going to be making our
own snowmen out of fractions and Olaf wants to help!”
d. “Who can tell me what a fraction is?” (wait for answers) “We are going to find out!”
Development 1
a. Have students fold one of their circles in half and cut along the line created
b. Explain that they have just made two halves. Ask students if they still have the same
size circle (yes). Emphasize that the two halves of a circle make a whole
circle.
Development 2
a. Explain that a fraction is a representation of a part of a whole.
b. Show on the board how a fraction is written/represented
c. Introduce terminology of numerator and denominator
i. Numerator – number on top; tells you how many parts you have
ii. Denominator – number on bottom; tells you how many parts are in a whole
Development 3
a. Model task, and then have students cut their two halves in half again to create four
fourths.
i. Show that you have to cut it a certain way. Otherwise you will not have equal
parts
b. Demonstrate that two fourths is the same as one half.
c. Demonstrate that four fourths is a whole.
Development 4
a. Have students cut the circle that is marked in thirds
b. Ask students how many pieces are in the circle (3), and how we would write it as a
fraction (1/3)
 Development 5
a. Have students cut the thirds in half.
b. Ask students how many pieces we have now (6), and how we would write it as a
fraction (1/6)
c. Allow students to figure out how many sixths they can put into thirds, halves, and
fourths.
Development 6
a. Have students cut the last circle into eighths.
b. Ask students how many pieces we have now (8), and how we would write it as a
fraction (1/8)
c. Allow students to figure out how many eighths they can put into thirds, halves,
fourths, and sixths.
Independent Practice
a. Students will assemble their snowmen by mixing any combination of fractions to
make a whole circle
b. Students will label their snowman with their name and with the different fractions
each of the three circles is made of.
c. Students will use the remaining time to decorate their snowman with provided
materials
d. As students are decorating, ask the following review questions:
i. What is a fraction? (parts of a whole)
ii. What is the top number of a fraction called? (numerator)
iii. What is the bottom number of a fraction called? (denominator)
Development 7
a. “Can anyone think of a food that is the shape of the circle that we could decorate to
represent different fractions?” (a cookie!)
b. With the time remaining, have students decorate their cookies to represent a
fraction. They will come to the front to get a cookie and a card with a fraction.
c. Have students sketch the fraction on a piece of paper before decorating the cookie.
i. Assistants will help students spread icing and use sprinkles as needed.
Closure
a. Show and Tell while students are eating their fraction cookies
i. “I think Olaf would be very proud of the fractions that you created today!
Would anyone like to show us what they made?”
ii. . A few students will show the snowman they have created and explain what
fractions they combined to make a whole.
iii. A few students will show their decorated cookie to the class and explain what
fraction is represented.
IV. MATERIALS
 - giant Olaf cutout to hang on board
- technology to play/show YouTube clip
- laminated circle fraction models for teacher demonstration
- white paper circles (4 per student)
- one circle per student should be marked into thirds
- construction paper (for background)
- safety scissors
- glue sticks
- markers/crayons/colored pencils
- glitter, stickers, cotton balls, etc. to decorate snowmen
- sugar cookies (1 per student)
- napkins
- vanilla icing
- plastic knives
- sprinkles
V. ADAPTATIONS/MODIFICATIONS
VI. ELVALUATION
VII. REFLECTION