Today’s third-grade math lesson reminded me why I love blending creativity with core curriculum. There’s something energizing about watching students light up when a challenging concept finally clicks–especially when robots are involved.
Fractions can feel abstract for many learners. Number lines, equivalent fractions, and relationships between numerator and denominator aren’t always easy to visualize. So instead of beginning with worksheets or diagrams, we brought out Wonder Dash robots and turned the classroom floor into a living, breathing math lab.
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| Photo Credits: Vicki's Tech Hub |
Students started by examining a 240-centimeter number line taped to the floor. We talked about wholes, halves, fourths, and eighths, and what it means to partition a space into equal parts. Then came the challenge: How far does Dash need to travel to land precisely on one-half? What about one-fourth? Three-eighths?
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| Photo Credits: Vicki's Tech Hub |
Suddenly, fractions weren’t symbols on a page. They were real distances to measure, divide, and test.
Students worked together to calculate how many centimeters each fractional unit represented. They learned quickly that one-half of 240 cm is 120 cm, that one-fourth is 60 cm, and that each one-eighth is 30 cm. But the real magic happened when they programmed Dash to travel those distances. There were gasps, giggles, and plenty of recalculating as students adjusted their number sense to match the physical reality on the floor.
Dash became their proof.
If the robot overshot the fraction, they revisited their math.
If it stopped short, they checked their division.
If it landed exactly on the marker, they celebrated with pride.
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| Photo Credits: Vicki's Tech Hub |
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| Photo Crredits: Vicki's Tech Hub |
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| Photo Credits: Vicki's Tech Hub |
By the end of the lesson, students weren’t just identifying fractions—they were reasoning with them. They were talking about equivalence, predicting outcomes, and correcting their work with confidence and curiosity.
This is why I believe so deeply in creative technology integration. When students can experience math with their whole bodies—planning routes, measuring distances, testing code—the learning sticks. The classroom becomes a place where abstract ideas feel concrete, and students discover they are capable thinkers who can solve real problems.
Fractions came alive today.
And Dash helped us get there, one centimeter at a time.
If you’d like the lesson plan or want help setting this up in your own classroom, I’m always happy to collaborate.
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