Find Fractions Everywhere!

Discovering a world of fractions is easy, because fractions are everywhere! Ask your child if she can think of where she has seen or heard a fraction in everyday life. Examples include a recipe (3/4 cup of milk), sports matches (first quarter of a basketball game), and let's not forget pizza! Cut in its traditional 8 slices, every piece is a 1/8 fraction waiting to be devoured. So your hungry daughter didn’t just eat a trio of slices, she consumed 3/8 of the entire pie.

Cut pieces of colorful construction paper into strips, circles and triangles to take this fractional activity on the road or out to dinner. Write 1/3, 1/4, 1/2, and so on, on the pieces and have your child put them together to make a whole number.

Another fun way to make fractions a part of your child’s life is to calculate her age down to the 12th. For example, my oldest was born on March 2, 2004, making her 15 and 7/12 on October 2, 2019. My youngest just turned 8 and 4/12 (which reduces to 1/3) on September 28. This certainly adds some spice to their age and is guaranteed to get funny looks from anyone who happens to ask your child how old she is!