Move Around Math Classroom Fraction Scavenger Hunts Grade 5 Common Core

This recent study says that, "Kids who move while learning may absorb more."

"Kids who jump, squat and move their bodies during math and spelling may learn more effectively than students in typical sedentary classrooms."

Students should not be sitting in desks throughout the day. Period. It is a good thing if I can get my students to learn while incorporating movement at the same time. I have been having great success with classroom scavenger hunts in my classroom. Instead of doing a worksheet at their desk, my students start with a blank numbered worksheet and move around the room looking for the problems that they have to solve. I have taped the numbered problems all around the class for them to find, copy, and solve. It has worked fantastic. At first, I thought that it might get a little bit wild, but they were actually very quiet as they moved around the class completing their tasks. There is a good healthy buzz in the classroom and the students are more engaged in their work compared to what they would be doing if it was just seatwork.

I thought it was so fun to do that I have begun developing my scavenger hunts as products on Teachers Pay Teachers. I have started with fractions and have five scavenger hunts listed already. They tie in with the 5th grade Common Core units on Fractions, but can be used for advanced 4th graders or as a review in the 6th grade. Each scavenger hunt has 15 problems as well as a hidden message puzzle to solve just to make it more fun. Each scavenger hunt game sells for $1, although if you want to check out the quality, I currently have listed the 5th Grade Math Scavenger Hunt: Converting Improper Fractions and Mixed Numbers as a freebie.

Here are the fractions scavenger hunts:
5th Grade Math Scavenger Hunt: Adding and Subtracting Fractions
5th Grade Math Scavenger Hunt: Adding and Subtracting Mixed Numbers
5th Grade Math Scavenger Hunt: Converting Improper Fractions and Mixed Numbers

5th Grade Math Scavenger Hunt: Multiplying Fraction

5th Grade Math Scavenger Hunt: Multiplying Mixed Numbers

Get all 5 Scavenger Hunts as a discounted bundle here for $3

Grade 5 Move Around Math Scavenger Hunt: Fractions Bundle 

Using a Multiplication Chart to find Equivalent Fractions

This is one of my favorite math tricks that can really help your students as they try to understand how to work with equivalent fractions. I learned it at a workshop a couple years ago and have yet to meet a teacher who previously used or was aware of how simple this chart is to help students.

UPDATE: 4/3/2016 This has always been one of my most popular posts on this blog. For years, I have been teaching this using a self-created tool that I call the "Fraction Tracker" with my students. I always thought it would be something great for an iPad, but I don't have those creativity and coding skills. I finally decided to put my "Fraction Tracker" tool up on Teacher Pay Teachers. I included simple directions with photographs on how to use it. If you are interested you can find it here. 

Many simple equivalent fractions (most of the ones used in upper elementary years) are easy to find on a regular multiplication chart. I feel it is very helpful to point this out to your students. Many students struggle as they try to learn the many steps that it takes to find equivalent fractions. When you look left to right on the chart you are viewing the multiples of a number. When you view two different rows of multiplies you are viewing equivalent fractions.

For example using the 1's and 2's. Look at the two rows as if they were fractions.
1/2 = 2/4 = 3/6 = 4/8 and so on. You can split rows apart. Look at the rows for 1's and 3's. 1/3 = 2/6 = 3/9 = 4/12 and so on. To show how the chart works with my class I use an overhead projector and circle the numbers to make them easy to locate. To find 1/5 = ? / 30 I circle the 1 and the 5 underneath it on the ones column on the chart. Then I move my finger from the 5 until I get to the number 30 and circle that. I can block out or just cross out other numbers to make it clearer. Then I follow the 1 across and the 30 up until they meet at the number 6. and circle that. If you do it correctly the circles will form a square or rectangle.

Of course, as the students understand how to work the chart, teach them the other ways of finding equivalent fractions. It makes it much easier for them, however, to "see" the equivalent fractions for a number and the students even start memorizing the most common equivalent fractions.

Now for the most important part. When students take a test they usually cannot use a printed multiplication chart. So what! Train them on how to make a multiplication chart from their facts and have them practice often. Then at test time, they can reproduce the chart onto their test before starting the work. It should take less than 5 minutes. Not only can they use the chart for checking fraction, but they can use it as they do multiplication and division problems too! No it is not cheating. It is about being smart, observant, and prepared!

Do play around with the chart on your own. I didn't believe it would work that simply until I practiced with it and used it with my class. There are some other tips and techniques that you can quickly figure out on your own that even make using the chart easier.

Here is a blank multiplication chart template.

It comes from this site which has a bunch of interesting math templates.

If your students have a hard time memorizing their multiplication facts then this book Memorize in Minutes: The Times Tables shows an easy and unique way to help them out.