A fun 10-minute activity to do with your child!
Your child is learning to divide fractions by fractions using the "Keep-Change-Flip" method. This skill is used in cooking, crafts, and many real-world situations! This is an important skill for the Florida FAST test. Below are simple activities you can do at home to help your child succeed. No math expertise needed!
Pose this question: "If a recipe needs 3/4 cup of flour, and our only scoop is 1/4 cup, how many scoops do we need?"
Set up the division: 3/4 / 1/4. Use Keep-Change-Flip: 3/4 x 4/1 = 12/4 = 3 scoops!
Verify with measuring cups: Fill three 1/4 cups and pour them into a 3/4 cup measure. It works!
Try another: "We have 1/2 cup of sugar. Each cookie needs 1/8 cup. How many cookies?" (1/2 / 1/8 = 1/2 x 8/1 = 4 cookies)
"When we divide fractions, we're asking: How many [divisor]s fit into [dividend]? Keep the first fraction, change division to multiplication, and flip the second fraction!"
Scenario: "You have 2/3 of a yard of ribbon. Each bow needs 1/6 yard. How many bows can you make?"
Set up: 2/3 / 1/6. Keep-Change-Flip: 2/3 x 6/1 = 12/3 = 4 bows!
If you have actual ribbon, measure and verify. Mark 1/6 yard sections on 2/3 yard of ribbon.
"Dividing by a fraction always gives you a BIGGER answer (when dividing by a fraction less than 1). That's because you're finding out how many small pieces fit into a larger piece!"
"You have 3/4 of an hour to practice piano. Each song takes 1/4 hour. How many songs can you practice?"
Solve: 3/4 / 1/4 = 3/4 x 4/1 = 12/4 = 3 songs
Make it harder: "Now you have 1 1/2 hours and each show is 3/4 hour. How many shows?" (3/2 / 3/4 = 3/2 x 4/3 = 12/6 = 2 shows)
"Always convert mixed numbers to improper fractions FIRST! 1 1/2 becomes 3/2. Then you can use Keep-Change-Flip."
Just 10 minutes of practice at home can make a big impact on your child's confidence and success. Dividing fractions is a skill they'll use in higher math, cooking, construction, and many careers. Thank you for being part of their learning journey!
Su hijo esta aprendiendo a dividir fracciones usando el metodo "Mantener-Cambiar-Voltear" (Keep-Change-Flip). Para dividir fracciones: (1) MANTENER la primera fraccion igual, (2) CAMBIAR la division a multiplicacion, (3) VOLTEAR la segunda fraccion (el reciproco). Por ejemplo: 3/4 / 1/2 = 3/4 x 2/1 = 6/4 = 1 1/2. Las actividades de arriba usan cocina y medicion para practicar. Gracias por apoyar el aprendizaje de su hijo!