popsicles

Today I was teaching my math group about "even groups" like a precursor to division. I told the little boy I was working with, "The popsicle man gives you 4 popsicles, but says you have to share them with your brother. How many will you give him so you both have the same. So it is fair." He divided the popsicles and gave himself one and made another pile of three. I told him that doesn't look fair and his brother had more than him. He replied, "well Mrs. Mattoon, if I eat too many popsicles I get a tummy ace so I just want one." You can't blame him for being so smart. Sometimes these kids are so clever. So then I asked him what he can eat more than one of. He replied, "cheese." so I changed the problem. "if you had 4 pieces of cheese would your brother get three?" he said "heck no" and divided them evenly. Man I love what I do!