O C T O B E R

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Ms. Harpers
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Math Minutes
An update on 104s math activities!

Greetings 104 Families!!

I hope you are all staying warm during this unseasonably cool weather!
Lets hope we do not have as much snow this winter as we did last
year!!
I am sending this newsletter home with your student, because I would
like to update you on our progress in the math curriculum in third
grade.
We have had a very busy few weeks in 3b! A few weeks ago, your
students learned about a math concept that will change their math
thinking forever: fractions! As many of you already know, its not
always easy for students to understand the values that fractions
represent. In order to make them more comfortable with fractions, we
are taking advantage of the various technological aids that can help us
understand the purpose of fractions in the number system!
In this letter, you will find information about two technological aids
that your student can use to practice fractions. I suggest you encourage
your student to spend some time on either (or both!) aid each night, just
to supplement the work they are already doing in the classroom! I hope
you enjoy them and please let me know if you find any others that you
believe will be helpful to the rest of the class!

Why use technology in

the classroom?
Certain mathematical concepts can
be very abstract. Technology helps
students see these math concepts in
a different way. Often, seeing the
concepts displayed in a different
medium, allows students to more
fully understand them. This more
complete understanding will allow
them to more fully apply those
concepts in future math problems.

THE LOREM IPSUMS

FALL 2016

ZAP ZAP FRACTIONS is a free application available on apple products.

It includes two sections designed to teach and assess students on their understanding of fractions.

1. Understanding Fractions Lesson (Fig. 1 and 2)

Fig.1

If a student clicks on this section, they are guided through a quick

tutorial in which the basic of principles of fractions are reviewed by an
orange alien. During this review, the following terms are defined:
numerator, denominator, proper fraction, improper fraction, part, and
whole. With each new term, numerical and pictorial visuals are shown
(Figure 1). After a student learns a new term, they are asked to choose an
answer to the question asked. The application also shows fractions with
the fraction bar, shaded figures (circles, rectangles, other polygons), as
well as on the number line (Figure 2). If a student gets an answer wrong,
the software explains the correct answer. Students can move at their own
pace, because they click through the answers on their own. This section of
the app is useful because it shows fractions in a variety of different forms,
and builds on previous knowledge.

2. Challenge (Fig. 3 and 4)

Fig.2

In this section, students play an exhilarating game in which they

must accurately answer fraction questions to stay alive. The
questions cover all of the topics in the quick tutorial section. The
game is timed which requires students to have a firm understanding
of the concepts in order to survive for the whole minute. This skill
will be crucial during standardized tests. The software will increase
the difficulty of the problems if the student is getting the correct
answers, but will decrease the difficulty if the student is struggling.
This game is also advantageous, because it demonstrates fractions
as sections of circles as well as other figures (Figure 3). It also asks
students to identify fractions on a number line, clearly
demonstrating the meaning of a fraction (Figure 4).

Fig.3

Fig.4

THE LOREM IPSUMS

FALL 2016

National Library of Virtual Manipulatives is a free website

that provides a visual representations, as well as practice problems, relating to elementary math
concepts. We will be focusing on the grades 3-5 column of the Number & Operations section.

Fractions-Parts of a Whole (Fig. 5)

In this section of the website, students are asked to
create their own fractions. This is an effective
manipulative because it clearly displays the difference
between the whole and the part of the fraction. It is
also a great manipulative because it demonstrates
wholes that are not just circles, but rectangles.
Diversifying the wholes will make students more
aware of the definition of a whole.
Fig.5

Fractions-Naming (Fig. 6)
In this section of the website, students are able to
name the fractions represented by the pictures
given. This is an important skill for students to have
because in order to answer the question correctly, they
must have a firm understanding of the difference
between a whole and a part.

Fractions- Adding (Fig. 7 and 8)

Fig.6

In this section of the website, students are asked to add fractions together by identifying the LCM. While we have
not yet covered this in class, if your student is searching for a challenge, this would be a great place to start. This
manipulative is effective, because it describes the concept that is commonly over-shadowed by the algebra for
finding LCM. In this section, students are also able to choose what level of difficulty they want.

Fig.8

Fig.7
3

MATH MINUTES

OCTOBER 2016

A final note to the 104 Families:

I am so pleased with the hard work and perseverance each third grader has demonstrated during this unit! I
know it is not always easy for the students to think about such an abstract concept, but their determination
does not waver. I am happy to report that, each day, the students come into math class ready to learn. I am
sure this is due, in part, to the positive attitude that the 104 families have at home! I want to thank you for
that! The skills that students are developing now are laying the groundwork for the more complicated
mathematics concepts they will learn as they progress in school.
As always, please do not hesitate to let me know if you would like more information about your childs
progress specifically, or if you would like to learn more ways for them to interact with the material.

- Ms. Harper

Contact Information:
Rachael Harper
634-887-9067
rharper@thomaselementary.org

Upcoming events at Thomas Elementary School:

October 7: Back to school night at 7pm
October 16: Family Bingo in Springsteen Auditorium
October 24: Mr. Parks Family Night in Oates Gym
October 30: Halloween Parade (look out for an
email from me about logistics!)