Fraction Models and "Shake, Rattle, and Roll!"

What an afternoon! We spent a good chunk of today's math lesson working on ways to add and subtract three fractions using strategies and models that are accurate, flexible (having the ability to utilize multiple strategies to solve the same problem), and efficient. Here are a few pictures of each group working diligently to show different strategies and check one another's accuracy. Below this is a picture of the models I gathered from their work as I tip toed between groups. 

After math we reflected back to our National Geographic Explorer article titled "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" from our morning reading and embarked on a challenge to use what we had read about earthquakes and how to protect ourselves. Each group was given a bag of marshmallows and a box of toothpicks as building tools, the only requirement being that the structure must be 20 or more centimeters tall. Our goal was for each group to construct 6 identical structures so that we could simulate earthquakes and text twice for duration, intensity, and soil structure. As you can see, we ran a little short on time, but here are a few shots of our groups!!!

Try as I might, I can't remember this last groups name. If your son or daughter is one of these kiddos will you ask them the team name and email it to me? I can add their name to the picture and update the post.

Have a great weekend!!!