Dear parents,

This week and the end of last, we began our study of percents. One tool we use to show percents is called the Percent Bar. It shows how to break the number up into parts that make it easy to estimate or solve. Many students already know how to solve percents using ratios or the calculator. This activity is hands-on, and sometimes more challenging to a variety of students.

Percent Bars were sent home for HW Cores 1, 3, and, 4. Core 2 was able to complete the activity in class today. On the first part of the sheet we worked on dividing the percents, and then the numbers, by equal grouping. Then, we moved into the idea of “building” up to the percent we need to find. One example of a problem is:
33 is what % of 55? If the children break the bar up into 5 parts, each worth 20%, they can then associate every 20% with the number 11. Therefore, it would take three of the 20% increments to equal 33. The answer is then 60%.

Another example may include: If 36 is 50%, what is 100% of the number? The bar is broken into two parts. The child must add the two 50% parts to create 100%. A Hershey Bar is an excellent way to show this activity. We cannot use candy in school, but I recommend this at home. One may say, these four pieces represent a 100% of the number 60, what is 25%? The children love the association with food!

I hope this brief explanation may help with tonight’s HW. We will continue our study of Percent Bars and types of percent, followed by a quiz on Friday.

Thank you.