Everyone loves those cute complimentary crispy cookies when enjoying some delightful Asian cuisine. These cookies are not only uniquely aerodynamic, but they have a nice little message inside that is inspirational and uplifting. So why not combine this same concept to your teaching lesson by having your students learn more about fractions by making their own fortune cookies. Throughout the entire process of making these fortune cookies you will also be instructing the class on how to fold the paper which incorporates fractions. This technique will keep them busy, more interested in learning fractions, as well as give them a chance to express their creativity.

Materials:

- Plain white paper, paper color of choice, or color construction paper.

- Markers, crayons or color pencils.

Building Steps:

1) Begin with a piece of paper that is square in shape.

2) You can decorate one side if you would like to give it more color.

3) Fold the paper in half so it now forms a rectangle.

4) Unfold it, rotate it, and fold the paper at a right angle from the original fold, but in the direction of the identical side of the paper. Unfold it. Now the square has a vertical and a horizontal crease in the middle.

5) Flip the paper over so the decorated side is facing downward.

6) Take each corner of the square and fold it so it touches the middle point in the center.

7) Flip it over. (Notice that it is twice as thick as before.)

8) Fold the four new points so they meet in the center.

9) The end-result is a small thick square. Fold it again so it is a rectangle shape, and then fold it once more so that it is a square once again. Unfold the last two folds; all you need are the creases.

10) Extend the flaps with the less tighter points away from the body. This is so you can fit your index finger and thumbs underneath these flaps.

11) Now with your fingers below the flaps, condense the four outer corners together so you have a shape that resembles that of a flower. The middle part of the flower is now the bottom point.

12) Now for the creative part! Instruct your students to write different types of fraction problems on each of the sides on the outer part of the cookie. They can also draw pictures and jokes along with these fractions to make it more interesting. For instance, if you are instructing the students to create the fraction that is _ + _ = 1 whole, they can draw a heart that is split down the center and is composed of two parts. The inside part of the cookie will reveal the concealed answers to the fraction problems.

By incorporating this crafty project, students will be engaged, learn more about fractions as well as be able to interact with other students and solve each others riddles. What could be more fun then having the students participate in classroom activities as well as learn something new in the process?