Fraction stories

8-10 yrs old

11-13 yrs old

Math & Economics

Have students discover fractions in real life settings and have them communicate their findings through fraction stories.

October 31, 2016

Fraction stories lesson plan

Students will learn about different aspects of fractions (before making their fraction story)
Students will show understanding of how fractions are used in their everyday life and language.
Students will demonstrate clear communication of math work.

Create new creative world with an example house and assignment boards for the students.

Ex: Build a house where half the walls are red and half the walls are blue. Place a NPC in the house. Write the assignment on a board. Writhe the beginning of your story on another board: “A man lives in a house where ½ of the walls are red and ½ of the walls are blue.

Part 1: Fraction work before story telling:

Understanding the concept of fractions by working on the subject:
- What is a fraction: written and drawn fraction; comparing fractions
  - Outside Minecraft: Using centicubes, graph paper.
  - Inside Minecraft: Building fractions based on instructions.

Part 2: Working on fraction story in pairs or small groups:

Show example house in creative world to class, go through assignments
- Assignment: Make a fraction story. Build a house and have fractions build into the interior, garden, food etc. You will get ‘world builder’ ability so you can make boards and NPCs.
Example house also features the beginning of a fraction story for inspiration. “A man lives in a house where ½ of the walls are red and ½ of the walls are blue.”
Have pairs find a building space in the world – remind them not to build too close to each other.
Give students ‘world builder’ ability, so they can use NPC’s and boards for their story telling.
Students will build and write a story that incorporates fractions.

Part 3: Presentation:

Students and/or the teacher uses the camera and portfolio to document the story.
Results can be shared with Power Point, Sway or another presentation media.

Evidence of Learning

By building a living space the students show understanding of how fractions and math are a part of their everyday life.
Screenshots/in game pictures/screencast showing the connection between what is written and what is build
Some students will write simple text; others will write more elaborate stories where they use fractions in describing what they build.

Curriculum Extensions

Have students plan out their build on paper before they start building in Minecraft.
Require that other parts of math are used in the story.
Require a specific amount of fractions that need to be in the story.
Have students build their story – not write, then have other students visit and find and write the story.
Have students write fraction stories then have someone else build it.