Activity: Family Fractions
A scene from this summer’s blockbuster movie The Weird Number. The star of the movie is 2/3. Can you find 2/3 in the photo on the left? (He's wearing a "disguise".)

Make a set of 25 Fractionville ID cards with the fractions indicated below or print out the files that are linked below and cut out the individual cards.
 
Cards based on 1/2 - (1/2, 2/4, 3/6, 4/8, 5/10)
Cards based on 1/3 - (1/3, 2/6, 3/9, 4/12, 5/15)
Cards based on 2/3 - (2/3, 4/6, 6/9, 8/12, 10/15)
Cards based on 1/4 - (1/4, 2/8, 3/12, 4/16, 5/20)
Cards based on 3/4 - (3/4, 6/8, 9/12, 12/16, 15/20)
Other Numbers
The procedure

Put the cards randomly on the students' desks before they arrive in class. After they
come in and find their cards, tell them the following: Today you are going to be a fraction that lives in Number Town. The ID card on your desk has your name on it (for example, 3/4) and a picture ID.
Each of you belongs to a family. There are five families in the room. Your task is to find your family members and sit down with them. When you are together, the head of the family should stand up.

Note: Who is the head of the family you ask? Why it's the fraction in lowest terms, of course!

Followup activity

  • Play the dynamic version of this activity on the computer. Click here. Watch what happens when you click on the fraction names or their ID pictures.

  • Watch the movie the Weird Number and learn all about the folks that live in Number Town. For details, contact Ihor.