“You only have ¼ a cup of one of your recipe ingredients (you pick) in the pantry, the recipe says you need [X] cups of this ingredient. How many more cups do you need to get from a neighbor?”

In Dr. Corinna Brathwaite‘s Grade 5 Mathematics–A Journey through Numeration and Problem Solving class, students recently completed an exciting project that combined daily life tasks with a dash of cultural celebration, all while applying their mathematical skills. Students created a cooking and baking journal, selecting and preparing recipes while analyzing how fractions were used to adjust serving sizes. This hands-on approach highlighted the relevance of math in daily life, allowing students to deepen their understanding of fractions through real-world application. The project challenged students to step into the kitchen to recreate their favorite family recipes and lead presentations that explored the practical applications of fractions.

Fractions in the Kitchen

The assignment extended beyond the classroom, encouraging students to engage with various aspects of fractions, including reading and writing proper and improper fractions and mixed numbers, understanding equivalent fractions, comparing and ordering fractions, and converting between forms. They also applied the four operations with fractions, bringing these concepts to life as they made adjustments to their recipes. This meaningful application of mathematical principles reinforced their learning while demonstrating the versatility of fractions in everyday activities. In their work, students were asked to “describe the flavors of their dishes, and give the background/origin of their dishes.” They were asked “how many people did this dish serve originally?” and “how would you adapt the recipe to make it for double the amount of servings?” 

Students Present Their Fraction Projects

On Wednesday, December 11, students presented their projects in pairs, showcasing their work from laptops and rotating around the classroom to share and experience each other’s culinary creations. The recipes, modified and brought to life using fractions, provided a unique lens through which students could connect math to real-world scenarios.

The classroom buzzed with lively engagement and genuine excitement as students proudly shared the results of their six weeks of hard work. The project offered them the chance to exercise independence, collaborate with their peers, ask thoughtful questions, and demonstrate presentation skills. Through photos taken at home and personalized displays, students provided a glimpse into their lives, celebrating both their cultural heritage and their mathematical growth.

Real-World Problem Solving

Grade 5–A Journey through Numeration and Problem Solving is an important step in students learning to become confident, competent problem-solvers. According to the curriculum guide: “Students learn to apply mathematics to a variety of contexts and to communicate their understanding of the content in both written and oral form… Additionally, students learn multiple strategies to execute all four operations with fractions and mixed numbers, as well as with decimal multiplication and division. Throughout the course, students engage in multi-step problem-solving with real-world applications.”

Two Thumbs Up for Brathwaite

“We never knew a teacher like Brathwaite existed…”

To accomplish these objectives, Brathwaite has found teaching practices that students deeply enjoy, elevating their learning experiences. They describe her as honest, favoring class time because she provides opportunities for partnership and collaboration among students. In a recent Polygon article, Caitlyn H. ’32 and, Kiora J. ’32 wrote: “Corinna Brathwaite, a member of the Poly Middle School Math Faculty, is a phenomenal teacher. She is fun when she’s teaching, and it is so much easier to communicate with her because of the high energy she gives to her students. We never knew a teacher like Brathwaite existed… If you have already found a teacher as wonderful as Brathwaite, consider yourself lucky, just as I do, and preserve as many moments as possible.”