[MWForum]Creating Fraction Materials

[Wendy Petti]

Hi Lauren,

Yes - the joy of MicroWorlds!

Remember the solution is even simpler than you've made it, because if you
know you want 20 slices, you don't need to write (and I'm not sure I
understand the logic of)

repeat (360 / 20) + 2

Instead, you know you want to repeat the step 20 times, so you know you want

repeat 20

(The reason for using rt 360 / 20 inside the brackets is to let the computer
do the math to figure out how many degrees the turtle will turn for each of
those 20 slices.  Of course, sixth-graders can also do that math themselves
if you prefer.)

(And also, as I noted before, of course you'll need to experiment to get the
size of circles you need.)

And one more thing:  you'll notice I used fd 0 in my code.  I know that
might seem strange but it really does make a one-pixel dot when you write fd
0!  So there is no real advantage to turning the turtle, telling it to move
forward and back one pixel, then turning it again.  If one command can do
the work of 4 commands, why not?  But since the students themselves will be
developing the code, you might show them alternate approaches (without
supplying the whole solution of course) and let them choose.

I love that your older students will be making something practical for the
younger students, in the context of a meaningful learning experience for
both groups.  By the way, you can print the fraction pieces directly onto
stiff colored paper, such as the stock used for printing report covers at a
copy shop, using a different color for each pie.

I would love to have members of the MWForum share some other cross-age
MicroWorlds projects... or brainstorm some more ideas that might be worth
trying, whether or not anyone has actually done so.

Wendy


> Now I will see where the students decide to try to go
> with this! The joy of Microworlds! ...