LITTLE BITS
“Will you have some pie?”
Said Jane. Said I,
“Well, just a little. Just a bit.”
But I found when I had eaten it
That just onelittle-bit wouldn’t do.
So I told Jane to make ittwo.
Then was I happy with what I got?
Well, little-bits can’t make a lot.
For little-bits are small, you see.
So I told Jane to make it three.
Threelittle-bits are not much more
Than two. So I said, “Make it four.”
And I ate them up. Then asked for five.
Then six. Till Jane said, “Sakes alive,
Here are two more and that makes eight.
If you don’t stop you’ll eat the plate!”
“Eightlittle-bits.” I said, “are fine.
But would you care to make it nine?”
From “Little Bits” by John Ciardi.In this chapter you will:
Add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers
Estimate sums and differences of mixed numbers
Explore multiples
Relate fractions and probability
Find fractional parts of numbers
Solve problems by using simpler numbers
Critical Thinking/ Finding Together
Suppose Jane’s pie was cut into 10 equal
pieces. Name in lowest terms each fractional part
of the pie that was eaten. What fractional part of
the pie is left?8204-6_295 12/16/05 5:05 AM Page 295