Kids' Math Activity: Beach Ball Felt Fractions

I never liked math. There, I said it. It was boring. There were worksheets, tests and enough equations to give me little hands major cramps. So, why should I create a math activity for kids that’s just as ho-hum as I remember from way back when?

Getting hands-on and letting kids create is an easy solution to the math blahs. It’s summertime (or you’re reading this in December, wishing it was the summer), so I thought I’d go with a beach ball theme. This kids’ craft really couldn’t be much easier. It’s a super simple fraction activity – and a beach ball felt ‘board’ (technically, it’s more of a circle than an actual board). You can also use this as a math game with younger kids to build counting skills and color recognition!

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        2 8x10-inch pieces of craft felt in different colors

·        Scissors

Here’s What to Do:

1.     Fold one piece of felt in half.

2.     Cut half a circle out.

3.     Open the circle.

4.     Fold the other piece of felt inside of the circle.

5.     Cut a second circle, using the first one as a template.

6.     Cut one of the circles into four equal pieces.

7.     Place all of the pieces onto the circle to make a whole.

8.     Remove one piece. Have your child to count how many are left. Ask what the fraction is (3/4 or three out of four).

9.     Take away another piece to make ½, and then another to make ¼.

10.   Add pieces, making fractions that build up to a whole. Your child can vary the positions, exploring how she creates the same amounts even though the beach ball looks different.
 

Are you looking for more kids’ crafts? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas!

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