Alyssa Williams, a 5th-grade teacher at Upland Heights Elementary, is making math lessons more engaging and practical for her students. By incorporating real-world applications into her classroom, Williams ensures her students not only understand mathematical concepts but also see how they are used in everyday life. 

Williams recently introduced a fun hands-on activity called the "Decimal Diner" to help her students review multiplying and dividing decimals.  

"We used the Decimal Diner as a review for our multiplying and dividing decimals unit," said Williams. "We decided to use a real-world activity to apply their knowledge." 

The inspiration for this unique lesson came from a variety of online sources, including TikTok and Pinterest.  

Community support also played a key role in elevating the experience for students. Picoso's, a local restaurant, partnered with Williams to enhance the lesson.  

"Picoso’s was amazing and donated chips and salsa for our entire fifth-grade class!" Said Williams. "It elevates the experience for students to be able to have a tangible connection to what they are learning. It helped tie the whole day together." 

The students loved the interactive lesson and walked away feeling more confident in their decimal math skills.  

"The students absolutely loved it,” said Williams "One student said, ‘Ooo, this is the kind of math lesson I love!’ They were very engaged and used great problem-solving skills to apply it to their lives." 

Williams emphasized the importance of hands-on learning activities like the "Decimal Diner."  

"I think it is so important to have hands-on learning activities like this one because it connects what they have learned with real life," she said. "It allows them to use their skills in a more abstract way, and it provides a concrete understanding of why these skills are important. The 'why' is huge for young learners!"