Volume 1, Issue 1

February 2016

Enhancing Math Knowledge

Greetings from Ms. McConnells 3rd grade classroom!
This month, our class will be moving into a unit on
fractions. In order to enhance your childrens math
abilities with fractions, I would like to share some
helpful, interactive tools that can be used on an
iPhone, iPad or computer with parents and guardians.
These applets will get your child excited and prepared
for fractions!

Pizza Fractions
Pizza Fractions is an app that can be downloaded on the iPhone or iPad (for
free!). Your child can explore fractions as parts of a whole in a challenging
yet engaging way by representing fractions as slices of pizza. How can kids
not love this game? The app itself allows students to choose their range of
difficulty (easy, medium, difficult) so that as their math skills improve, the
app can continue with them. The objective of the game is to choose the
correct answer based on the representation of pizza slices shown on the
screen. Your child will love playing Pizza Fractions for its fun, charming set
up, and it could keep them occupied for hours! The basic mathematical
concept of the app will help your child understand and conceptualize
fractions as parts of a whole, which will be especially helpful during our
fractions unit in class!

Pros and Cons of Pizza Fractions

Pizza Fractions can be a great tool for the conceptualization of rational numbers (in this case, fractions as parts of a whole). Its pros
include the range of difficulty, which challenges students and keeps them motivated, as well as the simplicity of using the app. The app
is suitable for ages 9-11, so your child should benefit from the use of the app. However, its cons include the lack of prizes or rewards
within the game to keep students working towards a goal, and the use of only one shape to distinguish fractions as parts of a whole, as
it is important to understand that fractions can be displayed in many other shapes and sizes.

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National Library of Virtual Manipulatives

Fractions as Parts of a Whole

The National Library of Virtual

Manipulatives (NLVM) has
produced multiple simulations on
various mathematics concepts to
help students visualize and explore
ideas such as fractions. When
paired with the iPhone app Pizza
Fractions, the virtual manipulative
created for fractions as parts of a
whole can be a handy supplement
as they both conceptualize
fractions as slices, or pieces of a
whole.

The way the manipulation works is

as follows: students can log onto
the NLVM website and search
under grades 3-5 for fractions
as part of a whole. The simulation
requires students to click the up
and down arrows to divide the
shape into pieces, then the student
can click on each piece to discover
the fraction shown on the right side
of the shape. By clicking on the
new whole button, students will
be presented with a new shape.

The virtual manipulative on

fractions as parts of a whole is a
great tool for students to increase
their mathematical knowledge and
conceptual understanding of
fractions. However, the simulation
is rather basic and uncomplicated,
which can lose students interest.
This app should be used in
conjunction with apps such as
Pizza Fractions in order to maintain
your childs enthusiasm and
curiosity towards rational numbers.

Importance of Interactive Media in Teaching Math

By using interactive media to teach

mathematical concepts, your child
can improve his or her academic
skills and have fun doing it. These
applets and virtual manipulatives
allow students to explore math in a
way that keeps them engaged and
challenged without the frustration
that can sometimes accompany
mathematical problem solving.

Technology is also a growing trend

in todays society. By using the
tools around us, students can grow
and learn from the platforms that
are part of their daily lives. Also,
through the use of interactive
media, mathematics is made to be
fun rather than daunting to
students by promoting a positive
attitude towards the subject.