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Kitchen 3-5 / Week 06 / Wednesday
3/6
Week 06 · Fractions in the Kitchen

Wednesday

Kitchen Lab: Prove it with scoops
// Halve it, double it, add it up
⏱ about 15 min

Wednesday: Kitchen Lab: Prove It With Scoops

Oliver the Owl sets out measuring cups and a bag of dry rice.

"Math says 1/3 plus 1/3 plus 1/3 is one whole," he says. "Shall we test it?"

Bennie grabs the 1/3 cup. "What do you notice if I scoop three times?"

Riley grins. "Here is a hint," he says. "Level off every scoop."

Your mission

You will pour scoops of rice into a 1 cup measure.

Each test checks a fraction sum. Does the cup fill to the top?

  • Dry rice in a bowl
  • A 1 cup dry measure
  • A 1/2, 1/3 and 1/4 dry measure
  • A clean craft stick to level off
  • A tray to catch spills
  • A pencil and paper
Safety first
This lab uses no heat and nothing sharp.
Rice is for pouring only. Nothing is tasted in this lab.
Sweep up spilled rice so nobody slips.
  1. Wash your hands with all five steps.
  2. Test 1: Pour three level 1/3 scoops into the 1 cup measure.
  3. Is it full? Write what you see. Pour the rice back.
  4. Test 2: Pour four level 1/4 scoops into the 1 cup measure.
  5. Test 3: Pour one 1/2 scoop and two 1/4 scoops.
  6. Test 4: Pour two 1/4 scoops into the 1/2 measure.
  7. Pour all the rice back into the bowl.
TestFraction sumDid it fill the cup?
11/3 + 1/3 + 1/3
21/4 + 1/4 + 1/4 + 1/4
31/2 + 1/4 + 1/4
41/4 + 1/4 (into the 1/2 measure)

Copy this table on paper. Fill it in as you test.

MAKE A PREDICTION
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Before you test, predict. Will three 1/3 scoops fill 1 cup?
Three 1/3 scoops make ____/3 cup.
How many 1/4 scoops fill a 1/2 measure?
One 1/2 scoop and two 1/4 scoops make ____ cup.
What we learnedTrue or false?
Three 1/3 scoops fill 1 cup.?
Four 1/4 scoops fill 1/2 cup.?
Leveling each scoop makes the test fair.?
WHY THIS EXERCISEA fair test needs level scoops every time.
How many 1/4 scoops fill 1 whole cup? Type a number.
WHY THIS EXERCISEFour fourths make one whole cup.
For a grown-up
Help your child level off each scoop with a straight edge.
Praise careful pouring more than speed.

Math proved, scientist! Tomorrow you read the half-batch banana bread card.

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