Peer Review

Who Wants Pizza?

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Aug 17, 2005 by Teacher Education

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:: This is a delightful activity to help children understand fractions in the
context of eating pizza. The area models solidify the concepts of size and equal
parts. Addition and multiplication are dealt with using clear area models.
This is one of Cynthia Lanius' many lessons for students K-12 in mathematics.
It provides interactive material for students as well as materials for teachers.
This is an introduction to fractions, available in both English and Spanish.
Type of Material:: Interactive exercises; resources; explanations of lessons which build on basic
knowledge of fractions using an area model.
Recommended Uses:: Practice for students who have been introduced to fractions. Could be an
assessment tool-- even a self assessment tool for the students.
Could be used to help a student clarify some misconceptions about fractions
(adults and children). It provides preservice teachers with an example of good
lesson design as well as resources for further lesson planning about fractions.
Technical Requirements:: There was some difficulty in making the squares change color on an I-Mac. This
did not occur on other Mac models.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: 1. Understanding fractions from the perspective of equal sized parts.
2. Understanding that when equal sized parts are based on cutting the pizza into
more or less pieces, that the sizes will vary. Students are asked to compare
scenarios to see
what makes sense. The model is easy to use and understand.
3. Students will also gain a clear understanding of multiplication of fractions
as
meaning finding a "part of".
4. Students could also see what makes sense in attempting to make an algorithm
for
addition. They can see that adding denomminators or adding numerators with
unlike denominators gives them answers that don't make sense. This is all done
with very simple models and little confusing language.
Target Student Population:: The lessons are targeted to 4th and 5th graders depending on the curriculum in
the school. Some adult learners who have fraction phobia could benefit
from working through the problems on this site.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Very basic adding and multiplying.
Ability to read well enough to follow directions.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: The strength of this site is that it is strong in mathematical concepts. It
presents a simple progression that is easy to follow. It appeals to visual and
spatial learners, although it also allows for transitions between pictures and
symbols.
Concerns:: None

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: The site provides a demonstration of concept-based teaching and learning. It is
easy to use and could be used off-line since the models are easy to reproduce.
Concerns:: It is important to recognize that for use in a teacher education setting, the
"teacher" section of this learning object is key.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: It is easy to go from activity to activity. The directions are clear. The
multiple choice format is simple to use. Results are clear and understandable.
It works on both PC and Mac platforms.
Concerns:: There are no specific directions. The site is intuitive but might benefit from
something other than the one sentence overview of the assignment that can be
found on Lanius' s home page.

Other Issues and Comments:: This is an excellent set of activities that deal with important concepts in
fractions. The word problems provide a challenge-- yet are not so difficult that
students cannot do them. They force thoughtful solutions. The models used are
easy to understand so students who initially gave incorrect answers should be
able to reconceptualize their thinking.
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