What you'll need
- Clear container with straight sides, that holds at least 4 cups
- Masking tape
- Marker
- Measuring cup with 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 cup measures on it
- Uncooked rice, popcorn kernels, or water
- Other containers with which to compare
What to do
1. Have your child run a piece of masking tape up the side of the container so that it is straight from the bottom to the top.
2. For younger children, use a 1-cup measure. For older children, use a 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 cup measure. Pour the chosen amount of a substance listed above into the container.
3. Mark the level of the jar on the masking tape by drawing a line with a marker and writing 1 for one cup or 1/2, 1/4, or 1/8 on the line.
4. Follow this procedure until the container is full, and the tape is marked in increments to the top of the container. Now, the jar is marked evenly to measure the capacity of other
containers.
5. While filling different containers, ask your child "thinking" questions.
How many whole cups do you think this container will hold?
How many 1/2, 1/4, or 1/8 cups do you think the container will hold?
How many 1/2 cups equal a cup?
How many 1/4 cups equal a 1/2 cup? A cup? How many 1/8 cups
equal a 1/4 cup? A 1/2 cup? A 1/8 cup?
This activity provides a "hands-on" opportunity for children to experience fractions while making connections to the real world.
