3rd Grade Math, Lesson 1: Fractions and Counting Music in Dance

Kids! Learn practice more fractions and clapping to the beat at https://www.mutualdance.org/g3m1a/.

Check out all the fun lessons on our playlist at https://www.mutualdance.org/youtube!




——————————— INFORMATION FOR ADULTS ———————————

From Get Up! Get Down!: Learning Through Dance — a series of lessons that bring traditional subjects and movement together. Each lesson consists of a main video, plus activities (and when applicable, helpful videos like these). The program is specifically designed to support Ohio Department of Education learning standards and grade promotion.

This video is the main lesson content for Grade 3, Math Lesson 1: Fractions and Counting Music in Dance. In addition to this video, there is a supplementary activity to deepen understanding through practice and fun challenges…

THIS VIDEO: This main lesson utilizes a fraction model / illustration consisting of boxes. The number of filled in boxes out of the total number of boxes (solid or not) constitute a fraction. For example: 3 filled in boxes out of 6 total boxes is 3/6. Students will then apply this visual concept to clapping counts within a grouping of musical beats. For example: they will hear 6 beats. On the first three, they should clap, while remaining silent on beats 4, 5, and 6..

SUPPLEMENTARY ACTIVITY: An activity (provided through Google Slides) deepens learning and expands upon the demonstration provided in this video. The activity for this lesson provides additional fractions and a variety of musical selections to practice their understanding of both parts of a whole and musical beats. The activity can be found at https://www.mutualdance.org/g3m1a/.

Produced by Mutual Dance Theatre and Arts Center (Cincinnati, Ohio). Visit and subscribe to our channel for Get Up! Get Down!: Learning Through Dance or getupgetdown.org to access all of the materials, including a break-down of the lesson plans for teachers (detailing standards and so forth).