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Smart Cookies: Fairplains Elementary students learn fractions through baking

By Brett Dunlap 3 min read

PARKERSBURG -- Third-graders at Fairplains Elementary School are being taught how to apply fractions to making holiday cookies.

The eighth annual Fractions Cooking Show was held Tuesday at Fairplains where third-graders, their families and volunteers prepared a cookie recipe using fractions they had learned in class.

Students, with the help of their family members and volunteers, measured ingredients into a glass jar, which they took home to complete, bake and share with their families and friends. Each jar of mix includes instructions on how to get the mix together and baked into cookies.

Wood County Schools School-Family Liaison Jody Carder-Hamilton showed families examples of what the students were working on in class.

"They are using fractions to make this cookie mix in a jar," she said of the students. "They will get to see how fractions work in action to make something and create something.

"It is a Christmas tradition here that spreads a little holiday cheer."

Third-grade teacher Amanda Sponseller said students are learning fractions for the first time in third-grade.

"We celebrate and put everything into practice by doing cookies in a jar, by applying fractions and using measurements," she said. "Then they will have a treat they can take home.

"It is also a fun time students have with their families where they can bond."

The students are applying what they have learned about fractions and seeing it is not just something they do in the classroom, Sponseller said. It is something they can use in their everyday life.

Many of the families enjoyed the chance to come and see what their kids were learning.

Nikki Prunty, who helped her son Daniel with his mix, said it meant a lot to be able to do this.

"It means a lot for me to be able to help him out," she said. "I am able to see how he does math and to be able to do these different things with him."

Brianna Carpenter, who was helping her daughter Myla with her mix, said she was glad to be able to come and participate in doing this activity with her. She gets to see her child using math and applying it in a real world situation.

"It means a lot, because she still wants me to be here," she said.

Myla said she also had a lot of fun.

"I like to bake and spend time in the kitchen," she said.

Third-grader Malichi Davis said he had fun and this was a part of his first time putting something together to bake. He also was able to get a couple bites in of the chocolate chips and the M&M candies.

"It was so good to eat," Davis said. "I can't wait to eat the cookies."

He is planning to save at least one of the cookies he will make with the mix for a special visitor on Christmas Eve.

"I am going to give Santa a cookie," he said.

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