This free math video shows my daughters doing the “discovering fractions” activity that I explained in this intro video. You can see them figuring out equivalent fractions, adding fractions with different denominators, and doing little bit of multiplying fractions.

In part two, they get into some more difficult stuff, so check that one out, too!

Cuisenaire Rods are a visual and tactile way for children to explore fraction concepts. They can discover for themselves the fraction rules that are often so hard to remember (because most of us have no visual representation to help the rules make sense!). These are a great learning tool. Go buy some!!!

This free math video shows a great activity to do with two or more children once they understand a few basics about fractions (shown in the previous video). They will discover fraction rules on their own!

Children should do this activity many times with various rods used as “one” or the “whole.” This will help them internalize and generalize the concepts they are learning.

Cuisenaire Rods are a kinesthetic and visual way for children to play with numbers.

How to go from an understanding of 1/2 to knowing how to do 3/5 x 10. It’s not hard with Cuisenaire Rods! The trick is to use the word “of” when reading the multiplication symbol. Everything becomes clear!

I learned this from the Miquon math curriculum. It is a WONDERFUL program that uses Cuisenaire Rods to teach concepts and it is extremely inexpensive – totally worth it to try at home with your K-4th grade children! If I could only choose one math program to use with my kids, this would be the one!