Musical Fractions

Equipment list

In this fun, active lesson, students will practice fractions while moving to music! Here's how it works:

Each student picks a number bean bag or card (numbers 1-20).
While music plays, students walk around the space.
When the music stops, they pair up with the closest person.
Together, students create a fraction by stacking their numbers (e.g., 6/12).
They work together to reduce the fraction (e.g., 6/12 reduces to 1/2). If they can't reduce it, they'll find an equivalent fraction by multiplying (e.g., 3/13 = 6/26).

Improper Fractions: Have students place the larger number on top of the smaller one to make an improper fraction and then convert it into a mixed number.
Common Factors & Multiples: Challenge students to find the greatest common factor (GCF) or least common multiple (LCM) between their numbers.
Combining Numbers: If one student has 2 and the other has 7, they combine the numbers (making 27) and factorize it.
Operations: Have students practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division with their numbers.

Start with simple walking while holding the bean bags.
Progress to more challenging movement skills like heel-toe walks, jumping, skipping, crab walks, or balancing the bean bag on their head or foot.
Start with simple walking while holding the bean bags.
Progress to more challenging movement skills like heel-toe walks, jumping, skipping, crab walks, or balancing the bean bag on their head or foot.

“I tried this with my Grade 8 class, and they really enjoyed it! It was a great review before moving on to fraction multiplication.”

One student even asked, “Is this math or PE class?” I replied, “It’s both!”

Students particularly loved the “dance party” aspect of the activity!

ASK ID 2025-03-24-002-E