About
Are you looking for a way to reinforce fraction concepts in an engaging way that helps your students make connections? “Run an Ice Cream Shop” is a real-life math project where students will complete nine different tasks, each one focusing on beginning fraction skills. This project will help your students see how fractions are used in real life.
Ideas for Use
Math projects are an ideal way to consolidate learning. I recommend using them as an engaging activity AFTER skills have been learned rather than during learning. You will likely find that engagement is very high and that your students ask to do more of these!
There are many ways to use math projects in your classroom. Some of the most popular are:
•a small-group or pairs activity
•a guided math activity to allow you to see where your students are struggling
•a fun, rewarding way to engage your early finishers
•a low-prep, easy-to-implement activity for a substitute teacher
You might choose to print specific tasks to use during Math centers, or you might make a booklet out of all of the tasks and let your students choose which one to do when.
This resource is included in PDF format for printing and in Google Slides™️ format for digital learning. This makes it useable with Google Classroom™️.
What's Included?
Take a look at what you’ll find inside this math project:
TASK #1: PLANNING YOUR ICE CREAM SHOP
This activity will get students excited about the project. They’ll be brainstorming a name for their ice cream shop and designing an advertisement.
TASK #2: MAKING CONES
The ice cream cones are the most popular items at your shop! Shade each picture according to the fractions.
Skills: simple fractions, visual models
TASK #3: SERVING GROUPS
A lot of families and groups come into your ice cream shop. Let’s take a look at a few of them who visited today!
Skills: fractions in numbers, fractions in words, fractions on a number line
TASK #4: SUPER SUNDAES
Sundaes are the next most popular item at your ice cream shop. Let’s see what you’re making today!
Skills: fractions in numbers, fractions in words, fractions as pictures
TASK #5: ORDER UP!
Here are just a few of the orders from today! Represent each order in a variety of different ways.
Skills: fractions in numbers, visual models
TASK #6: WAFFLE CONE OR REGULAR?
Let’s see which type of cone is more popular.
Skills: picture graphs, fractions as visual models, comparing fractions with the same denominators
TASK #7: OTHER COLD TREATS
Your ice cream shop offers other cold treats as well!
Skills: problem-solving with fractions, representing fractions with pictures and visual models
TASK #8: ROOT BEER FLOATS
Root beer floats are a popular menu item. Let’s take a look at how we make each one!
Skills: representing fractions
TASK #9: THE ICE CREAM TRUCK
Today you’re heading out to the streets with your ice cream truck!
Skills: representing fractions, fractions on a number line, fractions in word form, comparing fractions
PLUS A BONUS BRAINSTORMING PAGE TO MAKE MORE REAL-LIFE CONNECTIONS!
What Teachers Are Saying
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "I used this as an end of year review to prepare for the state assessment. The students loved that it incorporated ice cream and kept them engaged while working cooperatively to finish the assignment." Sunny in Third
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "My students loved the ice cream theme! It was one of their favorite math centers of the year, and the perfect mathematical prelude to our end of the year ice cream party! I used this resource as an end of unit review packet for heterogeneous student groups. The straightforward format of the worksheets enabled groups to work independently, helping one another, with very little clarification from me. Math with coloring? WIN!!!" Michele B.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ "I used this while I was out! It was easy for the substitute to hand out and provide instructions. My students enjoyed creating their own ads and incorporating color throughout! Great review of fractions!" Caitlin F.
