Lesson Plan
Spooky Fraction Adventure Lesson Plan
Students will practice adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators in a fun Halloween-themed setting, achieving at least 80% accuracy on guided activities and an exit ticket.
Mastery of fraction operations is critical for 5th-grade math and beyond. The Halloween theme boosts engagement and provides hands-on practice to build confidence and skill.
Audience
5th Grade Students
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Hands-on manipulatives, a festive hunt, and an exit ticket
Materials
- Candy Corn Fraction Counters, - Spooky Fraction Worksheet, - Candy Corn Fraction Hunt Sheet, - Spooky Fraction Exit Ticket, and - Spooky Fraction Flash Cards
Prep
Prepare Materials
10 minutes
- Print copies of Spooky Fraction Worksheet, Candy Corn Fraction Hunt Sheet, Spooky Fraction Exit Ticket, and Spooky Fraction Flash Cards
- Gather candy corn or use Candy Corn Fraction Counters as manipulatives
- Review the Spooky Fraction Adventure Lesson Plan
- Pre-hide fraction cards around the classroom for the hunt
- Prepare answer key for quick reference
Step 1
Introduction & Warm-Up
5 minutes
- Introduce objective: adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators
- Review equivalent fractions and steps for addition/subtraction
- Model one example using Spooky Fraction Flash Cards
- Invite a volunteer to solve a second example on the board
- Differentiate:
- Support: display visual fraction strips
- Challenge: present a regrouping subtraction problem
Step 2
Guided Practice with Manipulatives
10 minutes
- Distribute Spooky Fraction Worksheet and Candy Corn Fraction Counters
- Solve the first two problems together using counters to represent fractions
- Students complete remaining problems in pairs
- Circulate to assist and check for understanding
- Differentiate:
- Support: provide color-coded fraction cards
- Challenge: add mixed numbers and reduce answers to simplest form
Step 3
Candy Corn Fraction Hunt
10 minutes
- Explain rules: find hidden fraction cards, record pairs, compute sum or difference on Candy Corn Fraction Hunt Sheet
- Students work in small groups to hunt and record their answers
- Monitor progress and offer hints as needed
- Differentiate:
- Support: supply a list of target fractions to locate
- Challenge: include at least one mixed-number operation
Step 4
Assessment & Closure
5 minutes
- Distribute Spooky Fraction Exit Ticket
- Students complete one addition and one subtraction problem independently
- Collect exit tickets to assess mastery
- Review a sample ticket as a class, discussing strategies
- Differentiate:
- Support: allow use of manipulatives
- Challenge: add a brief word problem for extra credit
use Lenny to create lessons.
No credit card needed
Slide Deck
Spooky Fraction Adventure
Welcome to our Halloween math quest!
Practice adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators
Use candy corn counters and a classroom hunt to solve spooky problems!
Welcome students to the Halloween-themed lesson. Introduce yourself and set a spooky mood. Briefly explain that today’s adventure will help them practice adding and subtracting fractions with candy corn!
Lesson Objectives
By the end of today, you will be able to:
• Add fractions with like denominators
• Subtract fractions with like denominators
• Simplify your answers when needed
Aim for 80% accuracy!
Read each objective aloud. Emphasize that mastery will be checked on the exit ticket at the end of class.
Quick Review: Equivalent Fractions
• Equivalent fractions name the same amount
• Multiply or divide numerator & denominator by the same number
• Examples: 2/4 = 1/2; 3/6 = 1/2
Use Spooky Fraction Flash Cards to practice!
Quickly review equivalent fractions using visual fraction strips or draw on the board. Show how 2/4 = 1/2, etc. Reference flash cards for extra practice.
Steps for Addition & Subtraction
- Check that denominators are the same
- Add or subtract the numerators
- Keep the common denominator
- Simplify the result if possible
- Write your answer in simplest form
Walk through these steps slowly, modeling on the board. Ask students to repeat steps aloud.
Model Example
Add: 2/5 + 1/5
• Denominators match (5)
• Add numerators: 2 + 1 = 3
• Result: 3/5
Subtract: 4/7 − 2/7 = 2/7
Demonstrate an example with candy corn counters. Then ask a volunteer to solve a subtraction example on the board.
Guided Practice
• Grab your Spooky Fraction Worksheet and candy corn counters
• Solve Problems 1 & 2 with a partner
• Use counters to represent fractions
• Complete the rest in pairs
• Raise your hand for hints or extra challenge
Distribute the worksheet and candy corn counters. Guide students through the first two problems together. Circulate to support pairs and challenge advanced learners.
Candy Corn Fraction Hunt
• Find hidden fraction cards around the room
• Record each pair and compute sum or difference on your Candy Corn Fraction Hunt Sheet
• Work in small groups (3-4 students)
• Support groups get a list of target fractions
• Challenge groups include a mixed-number problem
Explain hunt rules clearly. Show students where fraction cards might be hidden. Divide into small groups.
Exit Ticket
• Complete 1 addition problem and 1 subtraction problem independently
• Show all steps and simplify your answers
• Use manipulatives if you need extra support
• Turn in your Spooky Fraction Exit Ticket when done
Hand out the exit tickets. Encourage students to work independently. Collect and review responses to gauge mastery.
Great Job, Math Monsters!
Thank you for joining the Spooky Fraction Adventure!
Keep practicing adding & subtracting fractions
Have a fun (and safe) Halloween!
Congratulate students on their hard work. Remind them to practice at home and challenge them to find fractional examples in their Halloween treats!
Worksheet
Spooky Fraction Worksheet
Solve the following fraction problems by adding or subtracting the given fractions. Show all steps and simplify your answer.
Guided Practice
- 2/5 + 1/5 = _________
- 4/7 − 2/7 = _________
Independent Practice
- At a Halloween party, Ella eats (3/8) of a candy bar and Max eats (2/8) of the same bar. What fraction of the candy bar did they eat together?
- A witch brews a potion using (5/6) cup of eye-of-newt and then removes (1/6) cup. How much potion remains?
- Sam decorates (7/10) of a haunted house with pumpkins and then decorates (2/10) more. What fraction of the house is decorated now?
- The ghost team collects (9/12) of a sack of candy but gives away (3/12). What fraction of the candy is left?
Good luck, math monsters! Boo-tiful work ahead! 🎃👻
Activity
Candy Corn Fraction Hunt Sheet
Name: ______________________ Team: ______________________ Date: _______________
Instructions
- Search the classroom for hidden fraction cards.
- When you find two cards, record each fraction.
- Choose to either add or subtract the fractions.
- Show all your work and simplify your answer.
- Complete at least five hunts to earn bonus points!
Hunt #1
Fraction Card 1: ____________ Fraction Card 2: ____________ Operation (+ / −): ________
Work:
Answer (simplest form): ____________
Hunt #2
Fraction Card 1: ____________ Fraction Card 2: ____________ Operation (+ / −): ________
Work:
Answer (simplest form): ____________
Hunt #3
Fraction Card 1: ____________ Fraction Card 2: ____________ Operation (+ / −): ________
Work:
Answer (simplest form): ____________
Hunt #4
Fraction Card 1: ____________ Fraction Card 2: ____________ Operation (+ / −): ________
Work:
Answer (simplest form): ____________
Hunt #5
Fraction Card 1: ____________ Fraction Card 2: ____________ Operation (+ / −): ________
Work:
Answer (simplest form): ____________
Good luck, math monsters! May your fractions be fang-tastic! 🎃👻
Worksheet
Spooky Fraction Exit Ticket
Name: ______________________ Date: _______________
Complete the following problems independently. Show all steps and simplify your answers.
- Add: 3/7 + 2/7 = __________
Work:
Answer (simplest form): __________
- Subtract: 5/9 − 4/9 = __________
Work:
Answer (simplest form): __________
Great job, math monsters! Turn in this ticket when you’re done. 🎃👻
Reading
Spooky Fraction Flash Cards
Use these cards to review adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators. Read the problem on the “Front,” solve it, then flip to check the “Back.”
Addition Cards
- Front: 1/4 + 2/4 Back: 3/4
- Front: 3/6 + 2/6 Back: 5/6
- Front: 2/5 + 3/5 Back: 5/5 → 1
- Front: 4/8 + 1/8 Back: 5/8
Subtraction Cards
- Front: 5/9 − 2/9 Back: 3/9 → 1/3
- Front: 7/10 − 3/10 Back: 4/10 → 2/5
- Front: 6/7 − 1/7 Back: 5/7
- Front: 9/12 − 4/12 Back: 5/12
Challenge Cards
- Front: 5/6 + 1/6 Back: 6/6 → 1
- Front: 4/5 − 2/5 Back: 2/5
Cut these out to create your own flip cards or project them on the board for whole-class practice. Happy haunting and fraction fun! 🎃👻