Today I spent a great day facilitating and working with our regional Math 5/6 PLC teachers. Some great sharing and professional discussions took place during out time together. I thought you might enjoy the energizing activity we started our morning with…

Truthfully, I can’t find the original site that inspired the PowerPoint activity, but the following blog post does go into a bit more detail… Inspirado: Numerology – What Your Birth Date Reveals About You! If you use the birthday personality PowerPoint with your students remind them that these types of activities are all in fun! Members of our PLC agreed that the activity was a quick, fun way to incorporate some basic math skills and the student data could be used to introduce or revisit simple data analysis and graphing skills.

My current job entails working with teacher K-12 in a number of school districts across our region. The person I replaced was a real math pro. I often find myself re-teaching myself math concepts that got put on the back burner several years ago (more than I would like to admit to). Now…that doesn’t mean that I can’t figure out change or use every day math with little effort, but it does mean that I have had to revisit the nuances of math. I have spent a lot of time seeking out math-teaching strategies, manipulative resources (physical and virtual), games, and activities. The following links and videos represent some of my research as it relates to fractions…

Identifying Fractions

1. Identifying Fractions with Lines
2. Identifying Fractions with Sets
3. Identifying Whole or Mixed Fractions
4. Who Wants Pizza – how to make a fraction
5. Pictorial/Numberline Interactive Fraction Sorting – You will be given two, three, or four fractions to create pictures with. Then you will have to drag the fractions into the correct order on the number line.
6. Fraction Balls – “this game forces you to guide each ball into the correct container. Each fraction ball has a fraction on it and your job is to guide the ball into the correct container. For instance, if the fraction ball has the fraction ½ on it then you must drop that ball into the container that is half full.”
7. Make a Match – Match a bottle with a fraction to a bottle that has a picture of that fraction. As the levels increase, the shelves fill up with more potions. Can you put all the potions back?
8. IXL Math Practice Site – This is a marvelous general math site. The following grade levels feature excellent fraction information activities that are interactive and instructional (and progressive by grade level): First Grade, Second Grade, Third Grade, Fourth Grade, Fifth Grade, and Sixth Grade. The site is actually a site that charges for use, but practice activities were accessible and free to use from what I could see. The practice activities would be great for interactive whiteboard use as well as individual reinforcement. Please let me know if you have trouble accessing any of the resources.
9. AAA Math – Basic fraction activities include the following: Beginning Fractions, Fourths, Eighths , and Tenths
10. Fraction Manipulatives Handout (.pdf format)
11. Fraction Manipulative Print-outs (halves to twelfths)
12. ABC Ya! Fraction Tiles – online virtual manipulatives that could be used via individual computers or on an interactive white board
13. Math Playground Math Bars – an online interactive manipulative activity
14. Fraction Dominoes – a .pdf handout (also available to download here: fractiondominoes)
15. Fraction Tutorial – drag and drop…good for interactive white board
16. Vector Kids: Fraction Fun – fill in the number of pie pieces
17. How Much Pizza is Left – answer the questions as you work through the pizza problems
18. Fraction Fun SMARTboard Notebook 10 Activity – an activity I created for younger student implementation (Notebook 10 .zip folder)
19. Basic Math: Lesson 6 – Clip #1 – Understanding Fractions
20. Fractions Basics Proper Improper Mixed Math Learning
21. Math Expression

Adding Fractions

1. Math is Fun Tutorial – a nice introduction/review for adding fractions
2. Webmath – this interactive activity allows you to input two fractions and then shows you how to add those fractions together (this might be a good site to let students use after they have solved a problem of their own)
3. Math Playground Adding Fractions – an excellent interactive game that provides feedback as students answer various fraction adding problems
4. AAA Math: Adding Fractions with the same Denominator – use the practice activity toward the bottom of the page for concept reinforcement
5. Adding Fractions with Different Denominators – use the practice activity toward the bottom of the page for concept reinforcement
6. AAA Math: Adding Mixed Numbers with the same Denominator – use the practice activity toward the bottom of the page for concept reinforcement
7. Math Splat Game – a fun game that gives students an opportunity to practice adding and subtracting fractions
8. Subtracting Fractions Worksheets – 50 free worksheets with over 600 questions
9. Subtracting Fractions Games
10. Action Fraction – race to the finish with this fun fraction addition game
11. SoftSchools.com Addition Fraction Game – add fractions with this practice game
12. Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators - a video showing the LCD (least common denominator) technique
13. Basic Math: Lesson 6 – #9 – Addition of Fractions – learn how to add proper and improper fractions
14. How to add fractions – a video developed by I-hate-math.com
15. Matha Mia Adding fractions song

Subtracting Fractions

1. Math is Fun.com: Subtracting Fractions – a nice introduction/review for subtracting fractions
2. Webmath – this interactive activity allows you to input two fractions and then shows you how to subtract those fractions (this might be a good site to let students use after they have solved a problem of their own)
3. Math Playground Subtracting Fractions – an excellent interactive game that provides feedback as students answer various fraction subtracting problems
4. Subtract Fractions (different denominator) – Fishy Fractions from IKnowThat.com
5. Soccer Shootout – a fun game for practice
6. AAA Math: Subtracting Fractions with the same Denominator – use the practice activity toward the bottom of the page for concept reinforcement
7. AAA Math: Subtracting Fractions with Different Denominators – use the practice activity toward the bottom of the page for concept reinforcement
8. Subtracting Fractions – Mixed Numbers
9. Basic Math: Lesson 6 – #10 – Subtraction of Fractions
10. Math Expressions – subtracting fractions

Multiplying Fractions

1. Math Playground Multiplying Fractions – an excellent interactive game that provides feedback as students answer various fraction multiplying problems
2. Cool Math for Kids Multiplication Tutorial
3. A Plus Math – multiplying and reducing fractions interactive practice
4. Multiply Fractions Jeopardy
5. Multiplying Fractions Video
6. Multiplying Fractions with Mixed Numbers
7. Math Expressions: Multiplying Fractions

Dividing Fractions

1. AAA Math Dividing Fractions Tutorial – look for the interactive practice activity at the end of the lesson
2. Mathfun Tutorial – online tutorial includes “paper/pencil” video
3. Math Playground Dividing Fractions – an excellent interactive game that provides feedback as students answer various fraction dividing problems
4. Dividing Fractions Worksheets – worksheets for additional practice
5. Songs of Higher Learning Dividing Fractions
6. Basic Math: Lesson 6 – #8 – Division of Fractions
7. How to divide fractions

Fractions/Decimals/Percentages

1. Fraction numberline SMARTboard Notebook 10 activity
2. Fractions, Percentages, and Decimals Jeopardy – Can you beat your opponent in Fraction/Decimal/Percent Jeopardy? You will have five different categories and five different questions for each category. Each correct answer earns you more points. Play by yourself or against a friend!
3. Many Fractions – Find the secret message! Click on pairs of equivalent fractions to uncover the message. Each correct answer uncovers two pieces of the message.
4. Fractions, Percentages and Decimals – Play with fractions, decimals, and percentages in this game. Try to match the equal pairs on the circles. Each correct match flips the circles over. Can you match them all?
5. Decimal Blackjack – Can you beat the robot in Decimal Squares Blackjack? You will be given cards with decimals on them. Try to get as close to 2 by adding your cards together. Click “HIT ME” for a new card. Try not to go over 2!
6. Fractions and Decimals – Drive and shoot in a tank! Convert fractions to decimals and decimals to fractions. If you are correct, you get to shoot at the bulls-eye. Can you get a direct hit?
7. BBC: Skillwise – Fractions, decimals and percentages
8. Math Fun – Fractions, decimals and percentages
9. Fractions Decimals & Percentages – virtual manipulatives
10. Fraction/Decimal/Percent Jeopardy – Challenging game to interchange forms of numbers from fractions, decimal, and percents.
11. Beg Algebra: Convert – Fraction, Percent, Decimal
12. Change Fractions to Decimals to Percents

Miscellaneous Resources

1. Follow Me Fractions Cards – A set of follow me cards, linked to Fractions. followmefractions.
2. Fraction Frenzy – match the “like” fractions
3. Soccer Shootout – practice adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions
4. iKnowThat.com – there are a number of various fun and colorful fraction activities available at this site
5. Clara Fraction’s Ice Cream Shop – A game in which you convert improper fractions to mixed numbers and scoop the right amount of ice cream flavors on the cone
6. Fundamental Interactions of Equivalent Fractions

I have gathered a number of Halloween and Harvest related resources and links (and even developed a few of my own) to share with you today.

Incorporate and integrate some of the following resources in your curriculum as you celebrate this week…

• Explore the literature, customs, and history of Halloween, using the lessons and links found on this TeacherVision web page. Integration ideas for Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, and Health can be found at this site. There are many printables available at this site as well.
• “Charlie Brown would surely appreciate the wonders of these GIANT pumpkin patches–but how can you move a 1000 pound pumpkin to enter it into a great pumpkin fair in the first place? Measure off the world’s largest pumpkins in this October installment for Riverdeep, where pumpkins are a very serious business.
• Education World has also posted an interesting article about Pumping up Curriculum with Pumpkins.
• Are you looking for some Halloween printables? Visit the DTLK Holiday site. The site includes bingo cards, award coupons, worksheets, treat bags, and more!
• Here are some additional reproducible links…..
  • Print this cute number sheet — students fill in the ghosts!
  • Which Halloween pictures are different?
  • Just in time for Halloween – Math Word Problems!
  • Print some terrific Halloween Stationary for young authors to use or better yet have your creative writers keyboard their stories and mount them on a Haunted House background!

Reproducible Mask Links…

• What’s In a Face? – an Art Sparker from the online Art Room
• Janet Brett Animal Masks – several reproducible Mask based on the characters found in Janet Brett’s books
• Jack-O’-Lantern Mask – A paper plate, hole punch, markers or paint, and some yarn are all that are required to create these Halloween Jack-o’-lantern masks.
• Make a Cricket Mask – If you are working on an insect unit with your elementary classes, you will want to download and print this very colorful cricket mask. Students can assemble it with scissors and glue.
• Animal Mask Printables – Choose a lion, a dog, a pig, or a koala bear–among others–to print out a template and decorate an animal mask for Halloween fun.
• Butterfly Mask – First learn about the butterfly cycle or monarch migration, then print out this vivid butterfly mask as a re ward for unit work.
• Sun Mask – as the weather gets cooler outside, warm your classroom with sun masks. This site gives directions for a project that will make your students shine!
• The Power of Masks – Elementary students will explore how cultures use masks and how different expressions are idealized or represented before creating their own papier mache mask.
• Animal Masks – Access a variety of detailed animal mask that can be printed out in color: lions, tigers, bears, a pumpkin, Little Red Riding Hood, and the Big Bad Wolf.
• Arthur Character Masks – Printable masks of all the favorite Arthur characters can be used for Halloween or in conjunction with the Arthur books.

Bookmark Links…

• Use these printable bookmarks to reward classroom behavior, for prizes in your own Halloween parties, or to encourage early reading skills. You can also give them out as trick or treat prizes instead of the usual candy treats.
• Author Illustrator Janet Brett also offers beautiful bookmarks just in time for Halloween.

Clipart Links…

• Visit the Cavern of Clipart for access to hundreds of Halloween related clipart items.
• There are also a number of Halloween printables available at Alenka’s Printables web site.

Halloween Story Starters

• It was a beautiful day and the leaves were starting to change color. I was on my way home from school. Suddenly, I saw something behind a tree
• Now that it’s almost Halloween one thing that I want to do is…
• I was reading my favorite ghost story when suddenly I heard a noise upstairs. Maybe it was the dog playing with my shoes or…
• We were sitting at the table making a poster for class. It was raining hard and the wind was whistling throught the trees. Suddenly the lights went out.
• If I could choose any costume in the world…

Batty about things that fly in the night…

• The Wonderful World of Bats – Check out this thematic unit on bats; students will gain a greater appreciation for these misunderstood mammals.
• More Batty Ideas! – October and its holidays provide the perfect opportunity for learning about bats. This site provides plenty of printables on bats and bat anatomy, along with general background information on classifying bats. Find more specific info on both the fruit bat, and the ever-popular vampire bat.

Creepy, crawly spiders and snakes…

• Spider Lessons – Seven elementary-geared lessons can be found at this site, complete with worksheets and exercises that span the curriculum.
• Under the Spell of Spiders – Learn about a spider’s life and explore the way people and cultures have typically viewed spiders. Printable handouts are included for the lesson plans.
• How well do you know your snakes? Take the Snake Sense test at the National Geographic Explorer Magazine web site.

Interactive Online Activities…

• Students will love the Halloween Meddybemps site. They can try on virtual costumes, help Frogwart cast spells, tour a ghost ship, play spooky games, and read interactive stories.
• Take your students to this interactive site where they can select eyes, mouths, etc. to carve their own pumpkin online! Great for younger students!
• Check out the online counting book I created to help young students learn how to count.
• Halloween Interactive Seek, Discover, and Play site – I created a site with 31 hidden rollover images that link to 31 interactive Halloween games and activities. Click on the image below to access the site/activity…
  

Halloween Safety…

• The Safety Game – Teach students how to best proceed when trick or treating using this
  online interactive game. Students must select between two choices for each segment and thereby learn helpful safety rules.
• Students will learn about Halloween safety in a fun fashion as they work with this interactive site.

Webquests…

• Edgar Allen Poe: Father of Horror – Middle school or high school students will create a timeline on the life and times of Edgar Allen Poe, and choose one of his literary works to recreate in a dramatic presentation or workshop.
• Harry Potter WebQuest – What do you think of Harry Potter’s life? Have you ever thought about being a student at a school similar to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? …