I have a list a mile long of projects and activities to blog about, but I’m having such a hard time finding…time!  The first one I want to share is the mini-fraction operation review project we did for adding, subtracting, and multiplying fractions.  

You can see my other fraction posts at the links below for more fraction activities, fraction anchor charts, and fraction notebook pages.  I guess we’ve done a lot with fractions over the past year or two!

Multiplying Fractions Blog Post
Adding and Subtracting Fractions Blog Post
Dividing Fractions Blog Post
Our Other Fraction Projects

My students really enjoyed this one, especially because they got to make a picture out of pattern blocks, and even 5th graders still love pattern blocks.

First, we reviewed what each of the different pattern blocks represents as a fraction, then I let them go to town creating a picture using the pattern blocks.  The only requirement was that it had to be made primarily out of blocks (only a few adornments were allowed) and they had to use each type of block in their picture.

This young man made a really neat submarine.

The students were so engaged and hard at work

I LOVE this one!  It turned out as a mountain with a skier zooming down the slope.  You can see the finished product later in this post.

Once they finished that, I let them color and outline it in black marker so that you could still see the pattern blocks.  

Free Fraction Activity Sheet

Then, they had an assignment sheet they worked through.  First, they had to multiply the number of each type of block they used by its fractional value.  Then, they add all of those fractional values together to find out the total “pattern block value” of their picture.  The back had them using the fractions to review a few other fraction concepts like ordering fractions and equivalent fractions.

You can grab the assignment sheet for free HERE.

Extension Idea

Then, students had the option of checking their work and proving their answers by using all of the pattern blocks from their picture to form whole hexagons.  I loved this part!  If they chose to do it, I took a picture of their “proof” and printed it to hang next to their final copy.

Incorporate Writing

Their final step was to include some writing.  On a half sheet of paper, they had to explain the steps they took to figure out how much their picture was worth.  Boy, this is a challenge!  Even though they essentially had the steps all laid out for them on the worksheet, it was still hard for them to put in their own words.

The Final Projects

Here are some close-ups of the final copies.

Here is the mountain with the snowboarder sliding down.  So clever!

The Green Machine was a super-powered robot vehicle.

We have one more fraction review project that we are working on, and I’ll post about that soon!

More Fraction Resources

If you’re looking for another fun way to review fractions, you might be interested in my Breaking Up The Bakery Fraction Project. This project based learning activity includes 13 Pages of fraction practice aligned to common core standards. You can use this as an extended project, for individual skill practice, math center work, enrichment, assessment, or independent study. This is also perfect review as test prep!

And if you are looking for even more resources for teaching operations with fractions, stop by my store to see the Ultimate Fraction Operations Resource Bundle!