by Brooke Crum (Grade 6 Math Teacher) & Grade 6 Students
During our Fractions unit, we explored how math connects to real life through something familiar and meaningful: food. For our Celebration of Learning in late January, each Grade 6 student chose a recipe that mattered to them, adjusted it to serve 23 people using fraction operations, and then brought the food to school to share.
“In math we shared our cultural foods with each other,” one student reflected. “We had to calculate all the ingredients and change the amount of each one to serve 23 people. We also learned to cook and bake, which was fun.” (Lisa)
The project required students to use multiple fraction operations, including adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions. Many students began by dividing the original recipe to find one serving, then multiplying to reach 23. As one student explained, “I divided the ingredients by the number of people the recipe originally served and then multiplied everything by 23. It was hard at first, but I kept trying until I got it right.” (Alex)
For many of them, this project changed how they think about fractions. “Before this unit, I thought fractions were useless or not used in real life,” one student shared. “But after this project, I learned that fractions are way more important than I thought.” (Lucas)
Another student reflected on how the experience built confidence: “Before, I thought fractions were hard, but then I learned that it’s actually not that hard. I worked through my difficulty by asking the teacher for help.” (Lisa)
The process wasn’t always easy. Students faced challenges with long calculations, unfamiliar measurements, and staying organized. “One challenging thing was persevering through the long calculations,” a student noted. “As I kept doing them, I built my perseverance and time-management skills.” (Mirei)
Others found that clear organization mattered just as much as correct math. “When my work was messy, I couldn’t read it, so I had to redo everything,” one student explained. “That taught me not to rush and to organize my thinking so others can understand it.” (Amelia)
Many students also discovered the importance of visual models. “I learned how diagrams can be important when showing other people who don’t know anything,” a student reflected. “They helped me understand how multiplying fractions works.” (Kouki)
Beyond math, the project helped students connect with family, culture, and each other. “I learned that you can share things from your culture with other people, even if you are far from your country,” one student wrote. (Lisa) Another shared, “Making food with my family created a warm atmosphere full of happiness and brought back memories from when I was younger.” (Anika)
The Celebration of Learning brought everything together. On January 23, all Grade 6 students gathered to share their food, posters, and learning. “The best part was the party,” one student said. “We got to try each other’s food and celebrate our effort together.” (Tamaki)
Overall, this project helped students see fractions as practical tools we can use in everyday life. “Now I know that math isn’t just for class,” a student reflected. “You use it when cooking, adjusting recipes, and sharing food.” (Emi)
Through perseverance, collaboration, and real-world application, students learned that fractions are more than numbers, they are a way to make sense of the world around us.