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Fourth-Grade Math Activities for the Right and Left Brain

Research suggests that the right and left sides of the brain fill entirely different roles and approach problems in different ways. Whereas the left side of the brain deals with rational and analytical thinking and looks at the parts, the right brain is more intuitive and subjective, looking at wholes. You can utilize a number of math activities that teach 4th graders to use both sides of their brains to solve problems.
  1. Graham Cracker Fractions

    • Use graham crackers to help a child learn about fractions, teaching him to understand the concept of division holistically while having him analyze each fraction individually. Ask the child how much you have when you divide one in half. Give him a graham cracker and tell him that is "one." Have him break it in half to discover the one divided by 1/2 is two. Repeat this with other numbers.

    Jelly Bean Puzzle

    • Get a few baskets together and put a certain amount of jelly beans of different colors in each. Write down the amount of colors in each basket beforehand so you don't forget. Then, give your child clues on how many colors are in each basket. For example, tell the child that there are 16 jelly beans in the basket, and half of them are pink and one quarter of them are yellow. Ask her to figure out how many there are of each. This gives the child hands-on practice with math.

    Guess the Weight

    • A guessing game is a good right-brained activity that has left-brain elements in it as well. For this activity, you will need to gather together a number of small objects such as glue sticks, markers and erasers, as well as a small scale for weighing and a plastic bag. Have the child put small objects in the plastic bag and then guess how much they weigh in ounces. Weigh the objects to see how close the child's guess was. Discuss the results to try to understand why different objects have different weights.

    Olympics Bar Graph

    • Teach your 4th grader to take a holistic look at numbers by creating a bar graph on a subject, in this case the Olympics. You'll need a white poster board, a ruler and some markers. Have the child take an informal poll of her classmates, teachers and family to find out what their favorite Olympic event is. Give the child a white poster board and some markers and help her create a bar graph using the data collected.

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