Early Math  /  Equipartitioning  /  Week 2: Lesson 5  /  Activity

Breakfast Time

 

Equipartitioning
Digital

Children divide and share breakfast foods equally among a group of friends.

Close-up of a child’s hands holding an iPad that shows the home screen of the Gracie and Friends Breakfast Time app. A screenshot from the Breakfast Time app shows a blonde character, waffles on a serving platter, and two empty plates.

Children practice dividing whole objects, like waffles and pancakes, and serving equal portions.

Characters in the game show how to cut the waffles.

 

Materials


Materials used in Breakfast Time.
  • Breakfast Time digital game on the iPad

Preparation

  1. Make sure the iPads are adequately charged and Breakfast Time is installed.
 

Directions


  1. Start with one iPad (keep any additional iPads out of reach).
  2. Introduce the game. Tell the children they are going to play a game called Breakfast Time on an iPad. Tell them that everyone will get a chance to play. Explain that the object of the game is to share breakfast foods equally among Gracie and her friends so that everyone has the same amount to eat. Sometimes they will cut up waffles, watermelon circles, or pancakes; other times they will share yogurt and berries. There will be different numbers of hungry friends. Can they share the food equally each time?
  3. Demonstrate how to play the game. Talk the children through the training level at the beginning of the game. In the animated tutorial, Leo shows how to cut and share a waffle. After watching Leo’s demonstration, reiterate the instructions while you show the children how to cut a waffle in half, distribute the pieces to two plates, and feed two friends (Felix and Tatum). Return to the training level by tapping the Home button in the top-right corner twice. Now have children take turns cutting waffles, dragging waffle pieces, and dragging plates to the friends. Play through Level 1 to show the children how to distribute the plates to the shadowy spots on the tablecloth. Try distributing the waffle pieces unequally and ask, Are these equal shares? Why not? Show how to tap the Reset button (the circular arrow that comes up when a mistake is made) to try again.
  4. Distribute any additional iPads and invite children to play the game. Be available throughout game play. Allow children to play on their own or with a partner while you observe and engage them in conversations about the math. Choose moments to interact that do not interrupt game play, such as at the start of a new level, or when a child is struggling and is open to assistance.
  5. Promote math talk and learning:
    • Have children count out loud as they share plates and breakfast items equally. Encourage the children to count the number of plates or bowls before they cut up the waffles, watermelon circles, or pancakes.
    • To get children to communicate verbally and logically about the math task and their thinking, ask questions such as, What are you doing in this game? How do you win in this game?
    • Ask questions to gauge understanding, such as, Are these two pieces the same size? Do these two bowls have the same number of blueberries? Which one has more? How do you know?
    • Model math talk by using words like same and equal when comparing amounts. Be sure to define new math words to ensure that children understand what they mean.
  1. As the game advances, the levels become more difficult, with more friends and breakfast foods to share. Assist children having problems with the math, especially as equal sharing gets more difficult. Reassure children that it’s okay if the game feels hard. It will get easier as they practice. Here are some typical problems children experience and some suggested solutions:
    • Sometimes children have difficulty identifying whether two shares of food are equal, such as when comparing two separate pieces of waffle, one with a single slice and one with conjoined slices. In this case, demonstrate how to count the segments, or use manipulatives. Ask children, Which plate has a bigger piece? Which plate has a smaller piece? Which needs more? How much more does it need?
    • If a child still has trouble with either the math or the motor skills necessary to play the game, consider having the child play Park Play, in which the child can practice cutting and dividing in the bird area, or fair sharing in the apple area.
  2. Assist children as needed with the mechanics of game play, but keep the main focus on math talk.
    • If a child has difficulty cutting the food into pieces, demonstrate how to cut: Start with one finger touching the outside edge of the food and drag it across to the other side. Children may try cutting the food with the side of their hand, or by holding it down with one finger and cutting with another, but the game is designed so that a single finger is used for cutting.
    • If children are especially frustrated by cutting the food, help by making some cuts for them and then allow them to hand out the pieces.
  3. Children learn from and teach each other — especially when they’re playing! Encourage simultaneous or collaborative play for struggling children. Invite more advanced children to explain how they make fair shares with the different foods.
  4. Overall, have fun and allow the children to have fun too. They’ll learn while playing!

Length of Play

10–15 min.

Group Size

Individuals

In the Schedule

Learning Centers


 
Vocabulary
  • equal
  • divide
  • more
  • less
  • number names and numerals
 
Learning Goals
  • Divide a collection of objects into equal groups
  • Divide and share a whole object equally
  • Understand what it means to share equally
  • Compare collections of objects, and identify which has more and by how many
  • Compare the pieces in a collection, and identify whether they are the same size
  • Count a collection of objects
  • Learn or reinforce number names