Context

Fractions are an essential part of mathematics and of many aspects of everyday life. They are vital to understanding concepts such as ratio, proportion, and even some of the more advanced ideas in statistics and probability. However, learning fractions can be challenging, because it requires a different kind of number sense. It requires understanding the idea of parts of a whole, and of representing those numbers in multiple ways.

The ability to understand and manipulate fractions is essential for success in mathematics and science. Fractions are the basis for understanding ratios, proportions, and geometric concepts, and are essential for understanding more advanced ideas in algebra and calculus. In addition, fractions are used frequently in everyday situations, such as cooking, carpentry, and finance.

Importance of Fractions

Fractions play an especially important role in everyday life, not only in mathematical calculations, but also in practical situations, like preparing a recipe, or dividing objects among several people. For example, if you have a pizza and you need to share it with four people, you will need to divide the pizza into four equal parts, or into fourths. In fact, any time you are dividing something into equal parts, you are working with fractions.

Thus, it is important to understand fractions and how to use them correctly. This knowledge will not only help students in their mathematics classes, it will also help them in other situations they may encounter throughout their lives. This project aims to teach not only the foundational concepts of fractions, but also to show how these concepts can be applied in practical situations.

Hands-on Activity: Exploring Fractions through Cooking

Project Goal

The goal of this project is to apply students’ understanding of fractions to developing and adapting a recipe for a certain number of people. Students will learn to identify fractions in recipes, convert measurements, and adjust serving sizes, all while applying their mathematical knowledge in a real-world context.

Project Description

Students will work in groups of 3-5 to complete this project over the course of 5-10 hours spread out over a month. During this time, students will research recipes, analyze the fractions they find, and adapt the recipe’s ratios for a different number of servings. To add an element of challenge, the recipe should include at least three ingredients with fractional measurements.

Materials

1. Internet access to research recipes
2. Pencils and paper for calculations and notes
3. Equipment and ingredients to make the recipe (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Form groups of 3-5 students.
2. Research and select a recipe that contains at least three ingredients with fractional measurements. Recipes can be found in cookbooks or on cooking websites.
3. Analyze the fractions in the recipe. Identify the fractional measurements of ingredients and discuss what they represent in terms of “parts of a whole.”
4. Decide how many servings you would like to make of the recipe.
5. Perform the calculations to convert the ingredient measurements for the new number of servings. Remember, you are working with fractions, so use fraction operations to convert the measurements.
6. Record all of your work, including the original recipe, a detailed description of the conversions and calculations you performed, and the adapted recipe.
7. If possible and safe, prepare your adapted recipe and take pictures of the process and final product.

Project Deliverables

1. Written Report: Reports should be organized into the following sections: Introduction, Procedure, Results/Discussion, and Bibliography.

• Introduction: In this section, explain what fractions are, why they are important, and how they are used in the real world.
• Procedure: Describe in detail each step of your project, including how you chose your recipe, analyzed the fractions, performed the conversions and adapted the recipe for a different number of servings. Provide details about any challenges you faced and how you overcame them.
• Results/Discussion: Reflect on what you learned throughout the duration of your project. Discuss how fractions were used in the recipe, and provide examples of how fractions are used in other real-world situations.
• Bibliography: List all of the sources of information that you used for this project, including books, websites, videos, etc.

2. Optional Cooking Component: If possible, take pictures of the steps involved in making your recipe. If safe and sanitary, students may include a picture of their final product. This is an optional part of the project, but it can be a great way to make the project more hands-on and engaging.

Through this project, students will apply their knowledge of fractions in an engaging, hands-on way. Additionally, they will gain valuable experience with teamwork, time management, problem solving, and critical thinking.