Title of lesson: Learning Fractions & Whole Numbers With M&M's

Topics: MATH, product-fractions, process-communication, SCIENCE, product-animal, process-classifying

Student Level: 4th grade

Objective(s):

1. The students will be able to determine the ability to classify colors of M&M's.
2. TSWBATDTAT construct their M&M's to form fractions.
3. TSWBATDTAT demonstrate effective cooperative learning within a group.
4. TSWBATDTAT classify colors of M&M's to colors in the environment.
5. TSWBATDTAT identify the numerator and denominator within a fraction.
6. TSWBATDTAT determine that the denominator in a fraction is the total number of equal parts within a fraction.

Introduction:

1. Have a big bowl of M&Ms sitting on the front table.
2. Tell the students that they will get a cup full of M&Ms, but before they do this they must agree not to eat any of the M&Ms until they have completed their assignment. If they do eat any of the M&M's they will not be able to participate and will lose the points for the M&Ms assignment. The teacher will call two groups at a time to come up to get their M&Ms.
3. The teacher will fill up the students' bowls and have them return to their seats.
4. At this time the teacher will ask the students to pour the M&Ms out of the bowl and examine the colors. Then ask the students to create on their construction paper an animal in the environment that resembles that color.
5. After the students have created an animal on construction paper place the colored M&Ms on the animal represented. (this makes the colors more identifiable)
6. At this time ask the students to write the number of each color of M&Ms beside each drawing. Each member in the group can have their own responsibility for picking a color of M&Ms to count.
7. Ask the students the fraction of green M&Ms to the entire group of M&Ms.
8. Repeat this step for each of the colors of M&Ms. Remind students to reduce whenever needed.
9. Now have each group discuss their fractions.

Review: Ask the students to recall what we discussed about fractions the day before. The students should recall that the numerator is always on top, because the word numerator has a "u" in numerator this means up above the fraction line. The denominator has a "d" denominator this means down below the fraction line.

Strategies: The teacher will use a t chart in order to assess the students' effective cooperative group work.

Conclusion: The teacher will ask students to share with the rest of the class their fractions of each color of M&Ms. The students will also share their drawings of animals to represent the colors of the M&Ms.

Evaluation: The teacher will evaluate the students throughout the lesson to ensure cooperative group learning. The teacher will also use rubric to assess student's performance in this way.

1. Correctly writing a fraction in longhand form reducing whenever needed.
2. Effectively working within groups.