Multiplying and Dividing Fractions: Fraction Fun with Snacks! {Freebies}

Multiplying and dividing fractions are some of the most difficult skills for my fifth graders to understand and master. The actual solving of the equation is not difficult and many prefer these operations to adding and subtracting fractions. However, my students struggle with word problems involving multiplying and dividing fractions because their conceptual understanding is not strong yet. I created this “fun” activity that involved snacks to review word problems involving multiplication and division of fractions as well as continue to strengthen their conceptual understanding of the operations. It was a huge hit, and I wanted to share it with you today.

To complete the activities described in this post, you will need the following supplies:

• Skittles (18 per student)
• Twizzlers (3 pieces per student)
• Brownies (1/2 of a brownie per student)
• Paper plate or napkin (one per student)
• Plastic knife (one per student)

Twizzlers Fraction Activity

First, we used the Twizzlers to model dividing a whole number by a unit fraction. The students were given three pieces of Twizzlers. We read the problem and discussed what we should do with the Twizzlers as required by the problem. The students acted out the problem on their plates, and then drew models to represent what they had done on their paper. Next, we discussed what operation they were doing and recorded the necessary equations. Finally, the students wrapped this activity up with a sentence stating the answer and a written explanation. It took only about 10 minutes!

Skittles Fraction Activity

Then, we moved on to a problem involving Skittles. This one was a multi-step problem that required the students to multiply fractions by whole numbers and then use that information to answer the question. They had to decide if it was possible to eat 5/6 of a total amount of Skittles and have enough to save 1/3 of the Skittles as well.

This was a good problem for my students because had several students that want to take the second fraction amount from the leftover Skittles and not the total. The students had to physically group the 18 Skittles into 6 groups and take 5 out to determine how many Skittles 5/6 of 18 was. Then we discussed whether we were taking 1/3 of the leftover Skittles or the total amount. Then, they had to regroup all of the Skittles into groups of 3, this time taking out 1 from each group to determine 1/3 of 18. Finally, they were able to determine the answer.

Just as before, they were required to represent what they had done with a model, equations, and finally the answer and a written explanation.

Brownies Fraction Activity

Last up, brownie fun! I gave each student 1/2 of a brownie. They placed the brownie on their plate and drew the missing 1/2 on their plate with a pencil so they had a representation of the whole brownie. After reading the problem, we took 5/8 of the remaining brownie. We discussed the importance of also taking 5/8 of the missing  one-half sized piece that they had drawn on their plate. This has been a struggle for some of my students but I think they finally understood that you also have to cut the other pieces into eighths, otherwise your pieces would not be equal. Then, of course, they represented what they had done with a model, wrote their equations, answered one more question about the leftover brownie amount, and they were done.

Overall, it only took about 30 minutes to complete all of the fraction activities with snacks and the students had a blast. I let them eat the snacks they had used while they were completing the handout. I plan to refer back to this activity and the word problems throughout the year when we solve word problems involving multiplication and division of fractions. I think this engaging activity will help some of their new understandings about multiplying and dividing fractions stick with them and I can easily build of their understandings.

Click here or on the image below to grab all of the handouts used so you can replicate the Fraction with Snacks activities with your own students.

Note: The resource has been updated since the photos in this post were taken. The content is the same and answer keys have been added for easy checking!

My Go-To Resource for Teaching Multiplying and Dividing Fractions

If you need more resources for introducing, teaching, and practicing multiplying and dividing with fractions, this is the one resource you need!

This resource includes:

• Teaching Posters
• Practice Printables
• Word Problem Tasks
• and SO much more!