TITLE:   MARS FRACTION HUNT

AUTHOR:   Paul T. Williams, Vanguard Honors Program,
          Phoenix, AZ

GRADE LEVEL:     Appropriate for grades 3 - 5.

OVERVIEW and PURPOSE:  This lesson is designed to give the
students practice in the use of fractions, changing
fractions, using equivalent fractions, and paying attention
to detail.  This lesson works well at fourth grade level,
but I find it can have good use with advanced third graders.

OBJECTIVES:  The student will be able to:
1.  Divide a word into appropriate fractional parts
2.  Use equivalent fractions to correctly divide words
3.  Pay attention to details in instructions relating to
    "first, "last", "second", etc.
4.  The student will analyze the clues and decode the
    message.

RESOURCES/MATERIALS NEEDED:  A MARS candy bar, classroom
globe (on a small stand or cradle), activities paper. Before
the activity, the MARS bar should be hidden under the
classroom globe.  The ANSWER KEY for the activity is:
FOR THE FIRST ONE TO FINISH THIS THERE WAITS A PRIZE IF YOU
USE YOUR HEAD PERIOD CLUE MARS IS DIRECTLY BENEATH THE SOUTH
POLE PERIOD GO LOOK

ACTIVITIES: (See "Resources/Materials Needed" for necessary
preparation and activities page)  The student will write the
appropriate parts of the words on the line to form a new
word.  When the message is complete, the first student to
decode the message will be rewarded by finding the hidden
candy bar (MARS bar).

TYING IT ALL TOGETHER:  After the winner has claimed his
prize, the assignment should be reviewed.  During this
exercise, many of the students claim that "no such words
exist."  This is where it is necessary for them to pay
attention to the details of the instructions.  Usually the
brighter students will be the ones to win; in that case, the
teacher could team the students into pairs or small teams--
if this is done, it is best to be sure to have a MARS bar
available for each winning team member.


FRACTION HUNT

1.   The first half of food + the last
     quarter of door.
____________________
2.   The last third of hat + the first
     2/5 of heavy.
____________________
3.   The second 1/3 of office + the last
     1/4 of door + the first 1/3 of street.
____________________
4.   The last half of go + the last
     1/2 of done.
____________________
5.   The last 1/8 of elephant + the
     first 1/5 of order.
____________________
6.   The first 3/4 of fine + the last
     3/4 of dish.
____________________
7.   The last 1/6 of cement + the
     first 3/7 of history.
____________________
8.   The last half of bath + the first
     1/3 of end + the last 2/7 of require.
____________________
9.   The first 2/5 of water + the last
     3/4 of fits.
____________________
10.  The last 1/6 of Glenda.

____________________
1.  The first 1/3 of principal + the
     first half of zero.
____________________
12.  The first 1/7 of instant + the first
     third of fat.
____________________
13.  The first 2/5 of young + the first
     1/10 of understand.
____________________
14.  The first 1/4 ugly + the first 1/5
     of settlement.
____________________
15.  The first 1/4 of youthful + the last
     half of pour.
____________________
16.  The first 1/4 of hesitate + the last
     2/3 of sad.
____________________
17.  The first 1/3 of permanent + the first
     half of iodine.
____________________
18.  The first 2/6 of clover + the last
     2/4 of blue.
____________________
19.  The first 1/4 of Mark + the last
     3/5 of stars.
____________________
20.  The last 1/4 of Meri + the first
     1/5 of Susan.
____________________
21.  The first 3/5 of dirty + the last
     3/7 of perfect + the first 2/5 of Lynda.
____________________
22.  The first 3/4 of bent + the last
     2/3 of breath.
____________________
23.  The first 1/3 of Thomas + the first
     1/8 of Endicott.
____________________
24.  The first 3/5 of sound + the last
     2/9 of Aylsworth.
____________________
25.  The first quarter of positive + the
     first two thirds of Lee.
____________________
26.  The first 4/9 of periscope + the
     last 2/5 of blood.
____________________
27.  The first third of get + the second
     fourth of Jody.
____________________
28.  The first half of loud + the last half
     of book.
____________________