MATH LESSON: Fractions
  
  Author: Paula 

  Introduction to unit:

  1) Place 5  one liter bottles of pop (Orange, Rootbeer, Coke, Diet
  Coke, and Flavored water) on a table.

  TEACHER'S NOTE: You can adjust amounts as needed.  This was a
  group of about 25.

  2) Give each student a cup and have them place their name on it.

  TEACHER'S NOTE:  I used  clear cups (9 oz ones, I think.)

  3) Have students put their cup with their name on it next to
  their "favorite" beverage. 

  4) Place each bottle on a separate table and have students go to
  the table that has their "favorite".

  Their task:

  1) Divide the pop evenly between members in your group.

  2) All group members must agree.

  TEACHER'S NOTE: With my class, I told them to only fill to the top line,
  if their group was small, because they would have let it overflow if
  I didn't tell them!

  3) After their group has agreed that their pop is divided equally,
  get back together for a discussion.

  TEACHER'S NOTE: We talked about all wholes being the same, but
  the fractions were not, because it depended on how many people were in
  the group.

  You get the idea of the discussion that can take place.  The kids
  pretty much lead the discussion, when I have them hold up their glass,
  I immediately hear "Hey, they got more than we did!"

  You can also give each person a mini bag of M&M's... Countless
  activities for that... Graphing and fractions is what I use them for.

  Using food always motivates!  I use cheezits when I teach perimeter
  and area.