Playdough and Fractions - Practical Maths Activity

Playdough and Fractions offers a practical maths activity that combines tactile learning with mathematical concepts, making it an engaging and effective way for students to explore fractions. In this hands-on activity, children use playdough to create visual and physical representations of fractions, which helps to deepen their understanding of how fractions work and how they can be used to represent parts of a whole. By manipulating the playdough to form shapes and then dividing these shapes into equal parts, students can visually see and physically feel the division, providing a multisensory experience that can enhance learning and retention of the concept of fractions.

This activity not only reinforces the mathematical understanding of fractions but also develops fine motor skills as children roll, cut, and shape the playdough. It can be tailored to different levels of difficulty, with simpler tasks such as dividing shapes into halves and quarters, and more complex challenges like creating eighths or thirds. The tactile nature of the activity makes it particularly beneficial for kinesthetic learners who thrive on engaging with materials directly. As an added benefit, the use of playdough in learning allows for creativity and can make the often abstract concept of fractions more concrete and accessible to young learners.