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Student Activity: Frosted Fractions (2–5 grade)

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California artist Wayne Thiebaud painted Cakes in 1963. All the cakes have something in common. What is it? Click on the answer.

Actually, all of the above answers are true. Click on all of them to learn more.

Read Ten Things about Thiebaud—you'll learn all about the artist.

Wayne Thiebaud, Cakes, 1963

How hungry are you?

Unless you are really hungry (and can eat the whole thing!), a cake is usually cut into equal pieces—or fractions—of the whole when it is served. Thiebaud gives us lots of clues on how to cut his cakes.

The Boston Cream Pie

It is the low one with a creamy white filling; it looks more like a pie than a cake. Imagine how this cake looked before the filling was put between the layers.

This cake is divided into two layers. Each layer represents one half (1/2) of the total cake. The whole cake consists of two halves (2/2).

What does 2/2 equal?
1 2 4

Which fraction or fractions represent this cake? 1/4 1/2 2/4 3/4

How many layers does this cake consist of? 2 4 5 7

Each layer represents a fractional part of the cake.
What fractional part of the half-cake does each layer equal?
1/4 2/3 1/2

Which cakes have layers or section marks that show fractions?

Roll your mouse over the painting to find them.

One of the cakes in Thiebaud's painting is divided into eight parts.

Click on the fraction to see the number of sections equal to that fraction:

Look at the cakes in the back row. Assume all are four-layer cakes with the same diameter.
Which of the choices below is the smallest piece of cake?

1/4 of the Valentine cake
2/8 of the "red dot candy" cake
2/16 of the spiral-spoke cake
1/2 of the half-cake

Your turn to cut the cake:

Use Cakes to write a fraction problem. Trade problems with a partner, solve your new problem, and then hand your finished work to your teacher. Be sure to write your name and your partner's name on your fraction problems.

All images on page: Wayne Thiebaud, Cakes, 1963

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