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How to Make a Game About Fractions, Decimals & Percentages

Mathematics is a core subject within school and it is essential that students get a firm foundation in the subject if they are to pursue a college education or work in the real world. One of the key parts of mathematics is the understanding of fractions, decimals and percentages. Students often struggle with these relatively simple concepts but the use of games in classroom activities can help. One of the most common example games used to demonstrate fractions, decimals and percentages involves the use of tortillas.

Things You'll Need

Tortillas
Calculators

Instructions

- 1
  Give two tortillas to each student.
- 2
  Explain to the students that one tortilla is equal to one whole, then explain that in percentages, one whole is equal to 100%, in fractions it is equal to 1 and in decimals it is equal to 1.
- 3
  Ask the students to fold their tortillas in half. Explain that one half is equal to "One divided by two" (1/2). Ask the students to type into their calculators "1/2" and press the equals sign. This gives "0.5" which is the value for half in decimals. Explain to the students that they can obtain percentage value by multiplying this by 100. Ask them to confirm the value of one half in percentages (50%).
- 4
  Ask the students to fold the tortilla twice to obtain a quarter. Using the previous example, ask the students to write down the value of a quarter in fractions, decimals and percentages. The students can then sit in pairs. Tell one student to fold her tortilla a number of times, and tell the other student to write down the value of the proportion in fraction, decimal and percentage form.

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