Fast Food for Thought: Delta Decimal Dog. hotdog, tenths, plastic hundredths; vi + 110-pp.teacher's guideReview by: Julie A. DermosheghianThe Arithmetic Teacher, Vol. 41, No. 9 (MAY 1994), p. 565Published by: National Council of Teachers of MathematicsStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/41196122 .

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In the final section of "Operations," students use manipulatives to add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions. Students first work with common denominators and then with unlike denominators.

At the beginning of each section, a "Notes to the Teacher" page is given. Following this page are six different types of activities with one or more pages of each type. "Let's Talk About It" pages are designed to introduce con- cepts. "Investigate and Record" pages give the students a chance to explore and record. "How Many Ways?" pages allow for multiple solu- tions to problems. "Looking for Patterns" pages allow students to draw conclusions from the patterns that lead them to rules about fractions. "I Can Do It!" pages allow students to use these newly formed generalizations. At the end of each section is a "Show You Know It" page that can be used for assessment. - Barbara Knox, School District ofHillsborough County, Tampa, FL 33601.

Activities for Fraction Squares Plus, Gr. 3-8, Linda Holden Charles and Ann Roper. 1992, 173 pp., $24.50 binder, ISBN 1-56107- 189-7; Fraction Squares Plus, 51 plastic pieces, $9.75. Creative Publications, 5040 West 11 1th St., Oak Lawn, IL 60453, (800) 624-0822.

Activities for Fraction Squares Plus has a lot of pluses for the busy teacher. Worksheets are included that give the student plenty of room to trace the fractional pieces directly without hav- ing to transfer the activity to another paper. The section on multiplying and dividing fractions is very systematic. The examples begin very sim- ply and work up to a more difficult level. The examples are always manipulative, since stu- dents must use the fraction pieces or draw and shade. The connection throughout the book of using the fraction pieces or tracing and shading is an excellent link to the fraction activity. - Ann Colson, Roland Park School, Tampa, FL 33607.

Activity Math: Using Manipulatives in the Classroom, Gr. K-3, Anne M. Bloomer and Phyllis A. T. Carlson. 1993, 300 pp., $25.60 paper, ISBN 0-201-45505-6. Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., One Jacob Way, Reading, MA 01867, (800) 447-2226.

This supplemental guide contains several kinds of manipulative activities that reinforce the skills in a basal-mathematics program. The skill-based lessons encourage many opportu- nities for students to see relationships and develop an understanding of mathematics con- cepts. Activities are designed to be used at both concrete and connecting levels. Lessons are divided into ten strands: number skills, place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, di- vision, fractions, decimals, geometry, and mea- surement. Each strand has specific subskills.

The book includes a scope-and- sequence chart with subskills indicating appropriate grade lev- els, a correlation of lessons with the NCTM's curriculum standards (1989), a section on mak- ing and using manipulatives, and reproducible pages. A materials list is included that is appro- priate for each grade level. The user is given options for organizing the individual strands.

Lessons are organized into one of the ten strands. The skill is highlighted at the top of the page. Materials needed and appropriate time required are also listed with the lesson. A mo- tivating introductory activity is suggested for each lesson.

At least two manipulatives are used for each skill. Teachers are given a script to follow or adapt for each procedure. Extension activities tie skills to problem solving and real-life uses.

This book focuses on the use of manipulatives as one tool for helping students make sense of mathematics. It offers teachers a resource to use for new ways to present material. - Lorraine Skelton, Maniscalco Elementary School, Lutz, FL 33549.

Activity Math: Using Manipulatives in the Classroom, Gr. 4-6, Anne M. Bloomer and Phyllis A. T. Carlson. 1993, 268 pp., $25.60 paper. ISBN 0-201-45506-4. Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., One Jacob Way, Reading, MA 01867, (800) 447-2226.

If the reader is searching for ideas on incorpo- rating manipulatives into an intermediate math- ematics curriculum, then consider this sourcebook. Activity Math assists teachers in moving students from the concrete tó the con- necting and abstract levels in a multisensory setting.

Activity Math is divided into the following eleven mathematics strands: number skills, place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, di- vision, fractions, decimals, ratio and percent, geometry, and measurement.

Lesson features include skill objective, iden- tification of subskills, time and materials needed, motivating introductory activity, at least two manipulatives for each skill, practice, and ex- tension activities involving real-life applica- tions.

Activity Math is teacher-friendly. Its scope- and-sequence charts, reproducibles, perforated pages, and labels for strand and chapter dividers will assist teachers by cutting down on the time involved in lesson preparation. - Julie A. Dermosheghian, Mort Elementary School, Tampa, FL 33613.

Fast Food for Thought: Delta Decimal Dog. 1993, hot dog, tenths, plastic hundredths, $15.95; vi + 110-pp. teacher's guide, ISBN 0- 87504-211-2, $14.95. Delta Education, P.O. Box 950, Hudson, NH 03051-0950, (800) 442- 5444.

Are you searching for an entertaining and inno- vative way to teach decimals to students in grades 4 through 6? Do you need an alternative approach for teaching the concepts and skills of decimals to special-education students? The Delta Decimal Dog might be the answer.

The Delta Decimal Dog is a wooden model of a hot dog on a bun with the dog cut up into decimal parts of varying sizes. A useful teacher' s guide is filled with forty-two sequential activi- ties. These lessons begin with concept develop- ment and lead into the multiplication and divi- sion of decimals. Also included in the manual are reproducible blackline masters and games that are perfect for cooperative-learning ses- sions.

NCTM recommends the concrete approach not only to conceptual development but also to the connection of concepts to real- world situa- tions. The Decimal Dog is a tool for teaching these standards, and it does so in a most eniov- able manner. - Julie A. Dermosheghian.

Great Graphing: More Than 60 Activities for Collecting, Displaying, and Using Data, Martin Lee and Marcia Miller. 1993, grades 1- 4, 96pp., $10.95 paper. ISBN 0-590-49470-8. Scholastic Books, 730 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, (800) 325-6149.

Great Graphing is divided into three parts. Part 1 : Graphing Activities: Collecting, Displaying, and Using Data is the bulk of the book. It consists of numerous activities that use a di- verse assortment of hands-on and classroom materials in which students collect data and examine, organize, graph, think about, and re- port on the results. Step-by-step directions in- clude the necessary materials, teaching tips, helpful wrap-up questions, and suggestions for modifying or extending the activity.

Part 2: Reproducible Student Pages: Inter- preting Data consists of reproducible pages with graph-interpretation activities that chil- dren can complete on their own. Logic and critical-thinking skills are required to complete the activities.

Part 3: Reproducible Teacher Resources in- cludes handy forms, grid paper, blank tally tables, and other helpful pages. The booklet is very well organized. Throughout the booklet Data Dazzlers are found - these extensions lead to other discussions and investigations. - Gloria Sanok, Packanack School, Wayne, NJ 07470.

Maxi Maths for Mini Kids: Extension Maths for 5-8 Year Olds, Kevin Lees. 1993 ', 59 pp., $13.57 paper. ISBN 1-875627-29-4. Dellasta Pty., Ste. 3, 6 Hamilton PL, Mount Waverly 3149, Victoria, Australia.

This book is designed for use with five- to eight-year-olds to develop their mathematical

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