Teachers wondering how to teach fractions to elementary students can use a candy math elementary lesson plan in which students divide and cut objects into two equal halves. In this elementary math lesson plan, teachers use Kevin Henkes's picture book Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick [HarperFestival, 2001] to introduce the concept of dividing an object into two equal parts or fractions. The story's setting and plot make this book appropriate for use as part of a Christmas math lesson plan that can be adapted for use with any holiday during which children receive treats.
How to Share Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick with Students
To begin this candy math lesson plan, display the cover of the book and have students identify the object in Sheila Rae's hand (a peppermint stick). Then read the book to students, pausing in the middle to have students make predictions about how Sheila Rae could turn one peppermint stick into two. At the end, discuss how the peppermint stick broke in half, or into two equal parts.
How to Teach Fractions to Elementary Students
Pass out to each student a paper "peppermint stick" made from a 6-inch-long strip of white construction paper with red marker stripes. Discuss how each peppermint stick is one whole. Have students glue the whole stick down at the top of a piece of paper and label it whole = 1.
Then, pass out more paper peppermint sticks and ask students to experiment with how they could divide their peppermint sticks into two equal halves. Strategies might include folding the sticks in half (from end to end) or measuring them with a ruler and cutting them in half at the 3-inch mark. Discuss how the two halves of a whole are equal, or the same size. Once students have decided on a solution, have them cut the sticks in half, glue the halves down on their piece of paper, and label each piece half = 1/2.
Next, have students use what they have learned about wholes and halves to divide other shapes of construction paper candy in half. For example, pass out rectangular paper candy bars or paper lollipops with circular tops. Have students glue a whole version of each kind of candy at the top of a piece of paper, labeling it whole = 1 again, and then ask them to divide and cut a second piece in half and glue those pieces down, again labeling each piece half = 1/2.
Candy Math Extension Activities
Remind advanced students that knowing how to split one piece of candy into two equal parts makes it easier to share the candy fairly. Then, introduce the concept of thirds and quarters by discussing what to do if three people or four people want to share a piece of candy.
Teachers can also provide advanced students with piles of real or paper cutout versions of small pieces of candy (such as jelly beans, m&ms, or gumdrops), have them sort each large pile into two equal smaller piles, and discuss how each of the smaller piles is 1/2 of the whole larger pile.
Using paper versions of Christmas candy or other treats as the focus for an elementary math lesson plan helps students understand the practical value of knowing how to use fractions and how to divide an object evenly in half.
Elementary teachers searching for other holiday-themed candy lesson plans based on books from Kevin Henkes's A Box of Treats can use Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick in a Christmas writing lesson to teach how to use descriptive adjectives, Lilly's Chocolate Heart [HarperFestival, 2004] in a Valentine's Day writing lesson to teach how to use prepositions and adjectives, and Wemberly's Ice-Cream Star [HarperFestival, 2003] in a Fourth of July science lesson plan to teach how a solid changes to a liquid.
Renee Carver - Renée Carver has an Elementary Education degree and over ten years of experience writing and editing children's educational products.
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