Context

The "Hershey Bar Math" lesson was created for CI 4900, Student Teaching, during the spring 2008 semester. It was created under the advisement of Dr. Jane Norwood as a lesson in part of a Mathematics Fractions Unit. The "Hershey Bar Math" lesson was implemented at Elizabeth Lane Elementary School in Ms. Leona Ingram's Fourth Grade Classroom.

The "Hershey Bar Math" Lesson was created inconjunction with the book, The Hershey's Milk Chocolate Fractions Book, by Jerry Pallotta.

Impact on Student Learning

The Hershey Bar Lesson allowed students to visually create fractions using a real-world application of a Hershey's Bar. They could manipulate the Hershey's Bar into the fractional pieces, and show the differences between the fractions following the book. Students were allowed to have visually see concrete examples of fractions using their own individual Hershey's Bar (Math, Competency Goal 1).

Alignment

The following NCDPI Elementary Education Standards were met by:

NCDPI Standard 2, Indicator 1 was met by having a math review about fractions and decimals using the Hershey Bar Book, and actual Hershey Bars to understand fractions.

NCDPI Standard 7, Indicator 1 was met by pacing and aligning the curriculum consistent with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and the LEA standards and pacing guides.

NCDPI Standard 7, Indicator 2 was met by incorporating mathematics, social studies, language arts, and healthful living into the students' fraction curriculum in order to enhance the teaching of fractions.

NCDPI Standard 9, Indicator 4 was met by connecting the mathematical curriculum with building on the concept of fractions using parts and wholes; to computing fractions into decimals later on. The Hershey Bar fractions and white board mantipulatives allowed students to visually see the fractions.

NCDPI Standard 11, Indicator 4 was met by requiring students to use real-world application of a Hershey Bar with a unit on Fractions.

NCDPI Standard 12 was met by having students incorporate art into the lesson by having students further their knowledge by drawing the fractional concepts.