Activity Title - Thanksgiving Recipe for Decimal Conversions

Goal/Objective

To use previously learned math skills to create a Thanksgiving recipe.

Lesson Outline/Introduction

Review with students how decimals are converted to fractions. Discuss the history of Thanksgiving and what it means to us today.

Activity

Give each student one of the recipe sheets. Tell them these are recipes for Thanksgiving pies, but they need to convert their decimals to fractions. Have students then triple the recipe. Have students compose a list telling how much they will need of each ingredient to make three pies.

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity

Have students share their lists of needed ingredients with the class. Make sure everyone agrees that the tripled amounts are correct.

Materials, Texts, Realia, Handouts

• Chalkboard
• Paper and pencils
• Recipe Sheet

Extension Activity

Have students write a descriptive paragraph about what they envision the first Thanksgiving to have been like.

ESE/ESOL Accommodations

Have students work in teams to identify reasons Pilgrims came to America. Have students list reasons that would cause them to move to a new country.

Real-Life Connection

Brainstorm ways we use decimals in our daily lives. For examples use money, temperature, weight, etc.

Activity Title - Thanksgiving Recipe for Decimal Conversions

Introduction

Say: The first Thanksgiving occurred many years ago when the Pilgrims celebrated it in America. The Pilgrims came here from their homes in England to find religious freedom. Pumpkin pies have become a traditional Thanksgiving dessert. We are going to find out how we can convert decimals to obtain our pumpkin pie recipe.

Main Activity

Hand out the recipe sheets to the students.

Say: This is a traditional pumpkin pie recipe. The recipe has been written using decimals. We need to convert these decimals to fractions.

Have the students convert the decimals in the recipe to fractions.

Say: We now have our recipe written in fractions. We now have one more thing to do. We need to make three pies; therefore we must triple our ingredients.

Have the students triple the amounts and make a list of how much we will need of each ingredient.

Closure/Conclusion

Ask: How many areas can you think of in our lives that we encounter decimals?

Discuss decimals that we use in areas such as money, temperature and weight.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities

Have students locate examples of decimals in magazines and newspapers. Have them bring them in and share them with the class.