8 Days of Hannukah

What Fraction is the 3^rd Day of The 8 Days of Hannukah?

1/8, 2/8, 3/8, 4/8, 5/8, 6/8, 7/8, 8/8

Hannukah (sometimes pronounced Chanukah) is known as The Festival of Lights, and this practice is celebrated by the Jewish Peoples of The Earth.

http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/605036/jewish/Chanukah-FAQs.html.  It is a remembrance of The Miracle of The Holy Olive Oil lasting for 8 days (i.e.) There was only enough oil to last for one day, but through the Miracle of The Holy Spirit during Beit Hamikdesh, it lasted 8 days and 8 nights, for the entirety of The Celebration of Chanukah.  Hannukah is celebrated starting the 25^th Day of Kislev (this corresponds to around the 21^st-28^th of December in the Gregorian calendar).

The typical Menorah consists of 8 branches with an additional raised or lowered branch in the middle to light the candles from, as there is a candle in each branch lit each night of the 8 days.  A fun thing that happens on Hannukah is The Spinning of The Dreidel, a four-sided spinning top that children play with. Each side of The Dreidel is imprinted with a Hebrew letter. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah#Dreidel.

 4 Quadrants of The Seasons

Winter Solstice December 21st 

What is The Fraction of The Solstices and Equinox Seasonal Cycles, based on The Gregorian and Celtic Calendar Year?

There are 4 quadrants that are the Seasonal Cycles of The Gravitational Cycles of The Earth, Sun and The Moon.  We call them:

Spring Equinox, Summer Solstice, Fall/Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice.

All fall around the 21^st – 23^rd of the corresponding month (in general the 21^st, depending on where the moon is, every year.

http://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/equinox-not-equal.html.

1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4

1. Spring Equinox:  March 21^st                        1/4                           
2. Summer Solstice:  June 21^st                          2/4
3. Fall/Autumn Equinox: September 21st      3/4
4. and Winter Solstice: December 21^st            4/4

Traditional Song: 12 Days of Christmas

What is the Fraction of the 5^th Day of The 12 Days of Christmas?

Here is an example:  If you add together the 3^rd Day of Christmas and the 5^th Day if Christmas, what Christmas Fraction does this equal? (Answer:  3/12 +5/12 = 8/12)

1/12, 2/12, 3/12, 4/12, 5/12, 6/12, 7/12, 7/12, 8/12, 9/12, 10/12, 11/12, 12/12

Traditional Song:  The 12 Days of Christmas

On the 1^st First Day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

A partridge in a pear tree. (1/12)

On the 2^nd Second Day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Two turtle doves, (2/12)

And a partridge in a pear tree. (1/12)

On the 3^rd Third Day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Three French hens, (3/12)

Two turtle doves, (2/12)

And a partridge in a pear tree. (1/12)

On the 4^th Fourth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Four calling birds, (4/12)

Three French hens, (3/12)

Two turtle doves, (2/12)

And a partridge in a pear tree. (1/12)

On the 5^th Fifth Day of Christmas, (5/12)

My true love sent to me

Five golden rings, (5/12)

Four calling birds, (4/12)

Three French hens, (3/12)

Two turtle doves, (2/12)

And a partridge in a pear tree. (1/12)

On the 6^th Sixth Day of Christmas, (6/12)

My true love sent to me

Six geese a-laying, (6/12)

Five golden rings, (5/12)

Four calling birds, (4/12)

Three French hens, (3/12)

Two turtle doves, (2/12)

And a partridge in a pear tree. (1/12)

On the 7^th Seventh Day of Christmas, (7/12)

My true love sent to me

Seven swans a-swimming, (7/12)

Six geese a-laying, (6/12)

Five golden rings, (5/12)

Four calling birds, (4/12)

Three French hens, (3/12)

Two turtle doves, (2/12)

And a partridge in a pear tree. (1/12)

On the 8^th Eighth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Eight maids a-milking, (8/12)

Seven swans a-swimming, (7/12)

Six geese a-laying, (6/12)

Five golden rings, (5/12)

Four calling birds, (4/12)

Three French hens, (3/12)

Two turtle doves, (2/12)

And a partridge in a pear tree. (1/12)

On the 9^th Ninth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Nine ladies dancing, (9/12)

Eight maids a-milking, (8/12)

Seven swans a-swimming, (7/12)

Six geese a-laying, (6/12)

Five golden rings, (5/12)

Four calling birds, (4/12)

Three French hens, (3/12)

Two turtle doves, (2/12)

And a partridge in a pear tree. (1/12)

On the 10^th Tenth day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Ten lords a-leaping, (10/12)

Nine ladies dancing, (9/12)

Eight maids a-milking, (8/12)

Seven swans a-swimming, (7/12)

Six geese a-laying, (6/12)

Five golden rings, (5/12)

Four calling birds, (4/12)

Three French hens, (3/12)

Two turtle doves, (2/12)

And a partridge in a pear tree. (1/12)

On the 11^th Eleventh day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Eleven pipers piping, (11/12)

Ten lords a-leaping, (10/12)

Nine ladies dancing, (9/12)

Eight maids a-milking, (8/12)

Seven swans a-swimming, (7/12)

Six geese a-laying, (6/12)

Five golden rings, (5/12)

Four calling birds, (4/12)

Three French hens, (3/12)

Two turtle doves, (2/12)

And a partridge in a pear tree. (1/12)

On the 12^th Twelfth Day of Christmas,

My true love sent to me

Twelve drummers drumming, 12/12

Eleven pipers piping, (11/12)

Ten lords a-leaping, (10/12)

Nine ladies dancing, (9/12)

Eight maids a-milking, (8/12)

Seven swans a-swimming, (7/12)

Six geese a-laying, (6/12)

Five golden rings, (5/12)

Four calling birds, (4/12)

Three French hens, (3/12)

Two turtle doves, (2/12)

And a partridge in a pear tree! (1/12)

And for some other of our Fun Learning Math Games, you can visit here:

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/HexaRace.html.

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/FractionsCards.html.

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/fractions-hazard.html.

Supplies:

• Crayola Markers, 3 for each student
• One Organic Chocolate Bar for each student
• Piece of Paper

Have everyone bring in a Whole Chocolate Bar (organic if possible – it is healthier!)  -  One that has an equal number of squares in it.  They do not all have to be the same number of squares, but if they are, it is a bit easier for instructions.

Using a non-toxic marker (Crayola is my favorite), have each Learner draw a gridline across the paper on the outside of the bar in their favorite color. http://www.crayola.com/products/list.cfm?categories=MARKERS,BASICS

Step 1:  Counting 1-12 (usually,  this is the number of squares in a bar.)  If it is different, then  ask the learner to count, respectively re their bar, and write down on paper the basic 12 fractions of their bar:

1/12, 2/12, 3/12, 4/12, 5/12, 6/12, 7/12, 8/12, 9/12, 10/12, 11/12, 12/12

Step 2: Then secretly and individually, each student colors a different amount of squares in each bar, using 3 different colored markers.  Encourage Sharing/Trading markers if there is not enough markers to go around.

Step 3: Then, everyone divides into pairs, and one at a time – without  showing each other what they have colored – each student  guesses what 3 numbered fractions the other one has colored.

Eg/  Susan colored 3 squares in Red, 2 squares in Yellow, and 7 squares in Purple.  Therefore, Susan’s Secret Fraction Codes are:

3/12, 2/12 and 7/12.

Bob colored 3 squares in Blue, 6 squares in Green, and 3 Squares in Orange. Therefore, Bob’s Secret Fraction Codes are:

3/12, 6/12 and 3/12.

Step 4:  After successfully guessing the other’s Secret Fractions, each one guesses the 3 respective Colors – of each Fraction Code.

Step 5: Once they have successfully guessed the other one’s Secret Fraction Codes, have them, TOGETHER then, add all 3 to make the Whole Number One 1.

Eg/ Susan’s Secret Fraction Codes look like this:

3/12 + 2/12 + 7/12 = 12/12 = 1

Bob’s Secret Fraction Codes look like this:

3/12 + 6/12 + 3/12 = 12/12 = 1

Last Step:  Everyone share their Chocolate Bars with The Teacher! lolololololol

Enjoy!  Yum.

Love The Earth!

Remember to Recycle both the paper and the tinfoil or plastic that the bar was wrapped in!  The more Recycling and Care for The Earth, the more Pretty Colored Feathers (or Stars)you receive from The Teacher!

http://iloveloveearth.weebly.com/enter-the-i-love-earth-competition.html

For another one of our fun and affordable Fraction Games, you can visit here: http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/chocolate.html

Most kids LOVE pizza, so make it fun and bring REAL pizza into the classroom, several if parents are okay with chipping in on the cost or if the principal authorizes this as a project.  Or, do what we did, and bring in the ingredients, borrow the home economics room, and cook them right there in the classroom. If neither of these possibilities is viable, then divide the kids into groups of different numbers and ask them to draw a simple picture of a pizza on a piece of paper, with the number of slices drawn equal to the number of kids in their group.

Once the pizzas have either arrived, or are baked, cut each pizza into different numbers of sections. If it is real-life cooked pizzas, still have everyone draw first, a picture of their group’s pizza on their paper.  Write underneath the pic the whole fraction of the total number of slices and the whole number that equals.  How many for all the pizzas?

Divide the kids into groups, and ask each group to agree on what the fractions of the pizza are as the slices are being divvied up between the students.   (For drawn pizzas, use scissors to cut the slices out and place them together into a whole pizza pie on their table.  Have each student write down on a piece of paper, what fraction is “their” piece of the pizza – if their slice is the 3^rd slice, and the pizza was divided into 8 slices, she / he writes down 3/8.  Have the student, then answer what fraction of the pizza is left in the box (or on the plate).  In reference to this example, the student would answer 5/8.  As 8/8 –  3/8 = 5/8ths.

As everyone is then eating their pizza, (or pretend eating for those doing the drawn pizzas), discuss which number of their fraction is the denominator and which one is the numerator.  Explaining of course, that the numerator of the fraction is the top number and the denominator of the fraction is the bottom number.

This is a most delish-ious way of teaching fractions in the elementary classroom.  Or, for the drawn pizza class, a delish-ious idea to do first in class on paper, and then bring home to ask parents to cook with them.

Here is another one of our Fun Learning Pizza Games!

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/pizza-fractions.html

• Teach them to use the ruler. Rulers are really handy for teaching real-world applications for fractions.  Most of them are already divided into halves, fourths, eighths, even sixteenths.  It’s easy to show them that two halves are the same as one. . . that two fourths are the same as one half, and four fourths are the same as one, and so on.
• Teach them to use measuring cups and spoons.  Bring lots of these dishes to class and give one measuring spoon and cup to each child.  Ask them to pour one cup of water into a tall glass. Now take guesses from the students:  How many half cups do they think it takes to fill a cup? How many quarter cups will it take?  How many one-eighth cups and one-third cups will it take?  Do the same with spoons:  How many half spoons does it take for one teaspoon, and so on?
• You can build on the measuring cups and measuring spoons lesson by giving each student a copy of a recipe or two.  Ask the students to help you rewrite the recipe.  For instance, you could take a recipe that serves four people and tell the kids that you only want to serve half that number (or two).  Then ask how many of each item you’ll need if you take half of each.
• Finally, you can use travel as a way of teaching fractions.  This one is more of a homework assignment.  Ask the children to count how many cars they pass on the way home from the school.  They write down this number.  Then ask them to write down how many are blue; how many red; how many white; how many yellow.  Finally, see if they can turn this into a fraction, reminding them that the color is the top number and the total number of cars is the bottom number.

These suggestions are not only fun ways to keep your students interested in fractions, but more importantly, they are ways to show them that fractions are applicable in real life.

For some of our fun games on fractions, you can visit these pages:

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/FractionsCards.html

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/cards.html

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/chocolate.html

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/FractionsBoard4.html

1. First, remember that the right time to start teaching fractions is right after the children have a good understanding of adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing.  Then begin with very basic, simple fractions for each operation.

1. We suggest using colored pencils for fractions, with one color consistently used for the top number, or numerator, and a different one for the bottom one, or denominator.  To train your class to recognize the numerator or denominator by your designated color, write some fractions on the board, and have the kids come up and change either the numerator or denominator to the right color.

1. Ask each child to fold in half a piece of paper. Then fold this folded sheet of paper in half again. Use the squares to talk about the blank___ to mean one out of four and the blank___ to mean one out of two.  Have them color to show first one fourth, and then one half, and then…

1. Gradually, you’ll begin working toward teaching the kids how each of the four operations is done with fractions.  For instance, with addition and subtraction, you add or subtract the top number but leave the bottom number the same.  With multiplication, you multiply the two top numbers and then the two bottom numbers.  Then with division, you flip upside down the second fraction and multiply.

1. One of the best ways to help elementary age students remember fraction concepts is to teach it in terms of money, so either keep lots of change and dollar bills on hand, or perhaps cut out some fake coins and bills.  You’ll find that many kids have an almost immediate recognition of how much a “half” dollar is.  Also, as soon as you tell them that a “quarter” is another word for a “fourth,” it will be easy for them to grasp that in terms of money, a quarter is one-fourth of a dollar.

With these few simple tips, not only will fractions not be a chore to learn, but also you’ll find that most children actually enjoy the lessons!

For a refresher game on adding, subtracting, and low integer multiplication and division, we have Hex-a-Race!:

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/HexaRace.html

After the refresher, we have for equivalent fractions these ones:

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/cards.html

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/FractionsBoard5.html

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/FractionsCards.html

Small Index Size Recipe Cards

Medium sized Pot

Large Stirring Spoon

Imagination

Create a Scary Recipe for a Halloween Witches’ Brew:

Using various fraction amounts of ingredients, all students must add the total amount of liquid for the brew.

Ingredients:

• 4 1/2 cups Mud Water

• 2 1/2 tbls Ghecko Slime

• 1 3/4 cups Chopped Toenails

• 1/4 tbls Frog Legs

• 1/3 cup Bat’s Blood

• 2  2/3 cups Black Cat Fur

• 1 1/2 tbls Spider Webs

• 1 tblsp chopped ear of newt

•  3  1/4 cups blackberry juice (for sweetener)

Stir well, and let simmer for 3 days

Each recipe makes 2 dozen cups of steamy swamp broth; one for each scary attendant to the Halloween Party (24)

All fractions are added appropriately: tbls added to tbls; cups added to cups; to make a total quantity of liquid/brew.

Or:

Each student creates their own recipe for a witches’ brew, all using different amounts.  They must add all the ingredients together for their total liquid.  Then, they trade with another student for their recipe, and add their total amounts of liquid.

Making it More Challenging:

What if there were more or less attendants to the party?  12? (1/2 number)….36 (1  1/2 the amount)? Depending on the number of attendants to the Halloween Party, the amounts of each ingredient must be altered.  How would the ingredients have to be changed to make the appropriate amount?  What are the new totals?

Making it Less Challenging:

Whole Numbers in the recipes can be used for an easier math lesson.

Have a Happy and Fun Scarrrrry Halloween teaching and learning fractions!

Here are some of other fun games for learning fractions!

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/HexaRace.html

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/FractionsBoard4.html

This activity involves a great deal of imagination while at the same time it allows them to use their ability to use fractions in order to complete this creative assignment. This activity will be sure to intrigue the students and convince some of them that maybe math isn’t all that bad afterall.

Materials:

270 miniature sugar cubes, (this is 18 sugar cubes per group of 2 at 15 groups if your class consists of 30 students)

Construction paper- 15 pieces

Instructions:

Teachers divide the class into groups of 2. Each group is then given 18 sugar cubes to construct their pyramid. Every time the students complete a row for the foundation of the pyramid they have to write a fraction down on paper, stating how many sugar cubes they used to construct the bottom layer. Let’s say they used 7 to construct the bottom layer. Since there are 18 total cubes for the assignment, the denominator will always be 18. Therefore, the faction for the first problem is 7/18.

The students would then continue this exercise and the construction of their pyramid until all of the sugar cubes have been used. Once they have completed the assignment, they can then add up all of the fractions they have written down. This would then equal the total amount of sugar cubes used to make the entire pyramid.  The students will not only have used fractions as a way to produce the pyramid, but they will also have something interesting to show for their work. This activity can also be adjusted to different grade levels by the complexity integrated.

Tips:

Once the students have made their own pyramid, they can also come together with another group and make a bigger pyramid which will test their fractions skills even more.

To make this activity even more interesting teachers can have the students create different shapes or objects with the sugar cubes and state how many sugar cubes were used in their design.

…..And for additional review, here is another pyramid fractions game using Chocolate!

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/chocolate.html

This game is ideal for students in grades 5-7.  Students will learn how to compare fractions with one another.

Materials:

Mini-smarties candy bag

Smarties lab worksheets

Markers or crayons -yellow, red, brown, pink, blue, orange

Poster Paper

The entire length of this lesson would take about 1 hour of time. You can also adjust the time to fit your needs.

1. Have students pair with another student so that there are groups of 2.

2. Have the students motivated about this game by asking leading questions, for instance:

-Tell me what your definition of a fraction is?

-How can we make fractions?

3.Explain to the students the purpose of the worksheets and explain the directions of the lab.

4.Ask the students if they need help or have any questions before you start.

5.Have the students separate  the smarties candy by color.

6.The students can then create their own fractions by using the amount of smarties they have in comparison to (whole) the different colors of the Smarties (part).

7.Have the students draw a circle and using their poster paper they can then divide the circle into the amount of Smarties that they have in their bag.

8.Once the students have completed their project, you can then go around the room and have an open discussion about their findings.

Tips:

Teachers can also allow the kids to eat the smarties candy after they have completed the project. This works as an added incentive for the students. Plus, they will be rewarded for a job well done!  Teachers can also reward the person with the most creative point of view and or the best explanation of their findings by giving them an additional box of smarties candy.

…and one other fun fractions game for Grades 5/6:

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/FractionsBoard5.html

Steps:

1. Take a sheet of fractions that you may have on hand that are just plain old fraction problems.
2. Let’s say that the first fraction of the first problem on the sheet is ¼
3. Let’s use that good ol’ imagination of yours and let’s write out that problem so the kids will enjoy reading the problem and learn something important at the same time.  Therefore, you would write something to this extent:

Tommy has four toy trucks. Of these four toy trucks, one is green. How many trucks does Tommy have that are green? Write this in a fraction. Answer- ¼

1. Now for the same problem, but the second number, let’s say it’s also ¼

You would write:

Jerry has four cookies.  Of those four cookies, one is chocolate chip. Write this in fraction form. Answer- ¼

1. Now you instruct them on the paper to take the first two you wrote out and have them make a fraction problem, therefore it would be ¼+¼ =

You can do this with as many problems as you would like. It would also be great to work in some topics that kids are interested in like snacks or candy or something fun.

By incorporating this technique, the students might be able to catch on a little better. They will also be able to grasp the beginning concepts of logic and probability, which they will need to be able to understand later in school.

….And of course, our other Fun Fractions Game for decimals, percentiles and money:

http://www.math-lessons.ca/activities/OneEquals.html

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?