Whimsical illustrations fill the slim volume that features six recipes keyed to, among other concepts, fractions, triangles and probability.
Steer clear of making the recipes into lessons, she cautions: “That takes all the spontaneity and fun out of it. You’re just trying to build a love of math and kind of an inquisitiveness so kids will not be so intimidated.”
Take fractions: “Fractions are pretty tricky because they’re abstract. If you asked what’s bigger, 3/5 or 7/8, I bet a lot of adults wouldn’t really know that.”
This recipe may help – the kids can help prepare and eat the results afterward.
Fraction Chips
Small flour tortillas
Olive oil
Taco seasoning
Spread a little olive oil over a side of 1 tortilla; sprinkle with seasoning. With a grown-up’s help, heat a skillet over medium heat; cook tortilla with olive oil side down, 30 seconds. Flip tortilla; cook other side, 30 seconds. Transfer tortilla with a spatula to a cutting board.
Cook remaining tortillas. Again with supervision, cut one tortilla in half, another into thirds, another into fourths and another into eighths. Now you have several sets of fraction pieces or chips.
Using the chips, how many different ways can you serve everyone 3/4 of a tortilla? For example, you could take a 1/2 and a 1/4 section to make a 3/4 serving. You could also make a 3/4 serving by putting together six of the 1/8 pieces.
Source: Adapted from Ann McCallum’s “Eat Your Math Homework”; she suggests adult guidance.
