October 2019

Technology in Math
Ms. Wu’s Grade 3 Classroom

DEAR PARENTS Technology can be beneficial to students’

learning through different means. Therefore,
This week we will be starting a new unit on
as we enter this new unit, we will also be
rational numbers including fractions,
incorporating two technology programs:
decimals, ratios, and proportions. At the
“Fraction App” and “Splash Math.” Both
beginning of this unit, students will be
programs are helpful resources for your
introduced to fractions.
children at school and I strongly recommend
you to take some time with your children
and familiarize yourself with these two
programs.

If you have any questions about these two

programs, feel free to contact me at
wumw@bc.edu!

Sincerely,
Ms. Wu
 October 2019

Fraction App
Fraction App, by The Math Learning Center,
is an app that provides students with an
opportunity to explore fractions actively.
Fraction App can be both used online and
be found on Apple or Chrome devices.

With this App, students can use a bar or

circle to represent, compare, and perform
operations with fractions with denominators
from 1 to 100.
After filling the circles with color, it would be
easy for students to see that 4/9 is less than
Fraction App can be used in multiple lessons
4/7. Fraction App provides students with
in our fraction unit, from representing
visual models when solving fraction
fractions to comparing fractions. For
problems in class. It is especially helpful
example, when students are asked to
because the abstract concept of the fraction
compare 4/9 and 4/7, students can create
can be hard for students to grasp.
visual representations for both of the
fractions. Students can break two circles into
Fraction App is also very user-friendly. The
9 and 7 parts respectively. Students can then
toolbar is very clear and simple. Users can
fill in 4 parts in each circle with colors.
also click “i” for instructions. Students can
easily use the App on their own and engage
in fraction exploration with a sense of
autonomy.

Splash Math
Splash Math is a collection of interactive
web-based iPad applets for students in K-5
to aid students’ understanding of multiple
mathematical concepts.
To start using Splash Math, create an
account and sign up for free! Having an
account enables Splash Math to provide
students with personalized learning by
adapting to the way each child learns. With
Splash Math, teachers can also track
students’ growth on specific math concepts.
Teachers will be able to assign specific
questions to students and make adjustments
to lesson plans based on the information
gathered from students’ use of Splash Math.
October 2019
To find the program for the fraction unit, go
to “Grade 3, Fractions.” We will be using a
program called “Equivalent Fractions using
Models.” This program will present students
with problems and visual representations of
two equivalent fractions at the same time.
For example, in the picture above, it shows
1/4=?/8 and two rectangles, split into 4 and
8 equal parts respectively. The rectangle split
into 4 parts has 1 part colored and the same
part is colored in the rectangle that is split
into 8 parts. Students need to click the fish
that shows the number of colored parts in
the second rectangle. In this case, fish “2.”
This program is very helpful because
Students can also see that the same fraction
can be represented in multiple ways visually.
This program scaffolds student because later
we will also be using more challenging
program, where the visual models are not
provided