Article
Ocskay Bence/Shutterstock.com (Background); Courtesy of Jonah's Hands (All Other Images)
Math,

Crafting With Care

Jonah Larson uses his skill with yarn to raise money to help others

By Jessica McKenna-Ratjen
From the December 2020/January 2021 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will use models to write and represent fractions of a set related to crocheting different items.

 

 

 

Lexile: 890L; 620L
Focus Area: Fractions and Decimals,
Standards
  • MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES: MP4, MP6, MP7 CCSS: 3.NF.A.1 TEKS: 3.3A

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Lexile® measure

  • 890L
  • 620L

Ocskay Bence/Shutterstock.com (Background); Courtesy of Jonah's Hands (All Other Images)

Jonah crocheted this scarf out of yarn.

When Jonah Larson was 5 years old, he found a strange tool inside his aunt’s bag of craft supplies. It was a crochet (kroh-SHAY) hook—a long, thin tool used to create fabric out of connected loops. Jonah watched a video on how to crochet. An hour later, he’d created his first dishcloth! 

Jonah was hooked. He learned how to follow patterns and crochet all sorts of items, from hats to blankets. Since then, Jonah has grown his hobby into a business. The 12-year-old runs his own YouTube channel, offering crochet video tutorials and reviews. He also sells T-shirts, pattern books, and his crocheted creations through his company, Jonah’s Hands.

Jonah Larson was 5 years old. He found a strange tool. The tool was inside his aunt’s bag of craft supplies. It was a crochet (kroh-SHAY) hook. A crochet hook is a long, thin tool. You can use it to create fabric by making connected loops. Jonah watched a video on how to crochet. He finished his first dishcloth an hour later!

Jonah was hooked. He learned how to follow patterns. He discovered how to crochet hats and blankets. Jonah is now 12. He has grown his hobby into a business. Jonah runs his own YouTube channel. He offers crochet video tutorials and reviews on his channel. He sells T-shirts and pattern books. He also sells some of the items he crochets. His company is called Jonah’s Hands.

Jonah didn’t create Jonah’s Hands just to sell his projects. He also crochets to help others. 

Jonah lives in Wisconsin. He was born in Ethiopia, where his parents adopted him when he was a baby. To support the village where he’s from, Jonah partners with a nonprofit organization called Roots Ethiopia. 

Jonah didn’t create Jonah’s Hands just to sell his projects. He also crochets to help others.

Jonah lives in Wisconsin. He was born in Ethiopia. His parents adopted him when he was a baby. Jonah helps support the village where he’s from. He partners with a nonprofit organization called Roots Ethiopia.

Courtesy of Jonah's Hands

Jonah uses a crochet hook to make objects using yarn, like these baskets.

Courtesy of Jonah's Hands

Through Roots Ethiopia, Jonah has funded the construction of a library and science lab. He’s used donations from his crochet fans around the world to help stock the library with books and to train its workers. When Jonah’s efforts to stock the science lab are done, he plans to move on to funding outdoor athletic equipment.  

“I have a very active mind that can fit a lot of things,” says Jonah. Crocheting is one way he can focus his energy to make a positive impact. 

“It makes you feel so good,” Jonah says. “It makes you want to give more.” 

Jonah has funded the construction of a library through Roots Ethiopia. He has also funded a science lab. Crochet fans around the world send Jonah donations. He used the donations to help stock the library with books. He also used the money to train people to work in the library. Jonah plans to fund outdoor athletic equipment when he has finished stocking the science lab. 

“I have a very active mind that can fit a lot of things,” says Jonah. Crocheting is one way he can focus his energy to make a positive impact.

“It makes you feel so good,” Jonah says. “It makes you want to give more.”

Math Talk

What math questions would a crafter need to ask before starting a new crochet project?

Math Talk

What math questions would a crafter need to ask before starting a new crochet project?

Fractions of a Set

What to Do

A fraction represents a whole divided into parts. Sometimes the whole represents a set, or group of objects. In working with fractions of a set, the denominator (bottom number of the fraction) represents the total number of objects in the set. The numerator (top number of the fraction) represents a specific number of those objects.  

Example

What fraction of the yarn balls below are white?

First, count the total number of yarn balls in the set. Write this number as your denominator.

Next, count the number of yarn balls that are white. Write this number as your numerator.

So 2/3 of the yarn balls are white.

Fractions of a Set

What to Do

A fraction represents a whole divided into parts. Sometimes the whole represents a set, or group of objects. In working with fractions of a set, the denominator (bottom number of the fraction) represents the total number of objects in the set. The numerator (top number of the fraction) represents a specific number of those objects.  

Example

What fraction of the yarn balls below are white?

First, count the total number of yarn balls in the set. Write this number as your denominator.

Next, count the number of yarn balls that are white. Write this number as your numerator.

So 2/3 of the yarn balls are white.

Now You Try It

Use your knowledge of fractions to answer the questions below.

Use your knowledge of fractions to answer the questions below.

A. To make a tote bag, Jonah uses 2 balls of green yarn and 1 ball of blue yarn. Shade in the model to show how many of the yarn balls are blue.

A. To make a tote bag, Jonah uses 2 balls of green yarn and 1 ball of blue yarn. Shade in the model to show how many of the yarn balls are blue.

B. How many yarn balls are in this set? To make a fraction, where would you write that number?

C. What fraction of the yarn balls are blue?

B. How many yarn balls are in this set? To make a fraction, where would you write that number?

C. What fraction of the yarn balls are blue?

A. Jonah makes a scarf using red, brown, and purple yarn. He uses 2 balls of red yarn. He uses a total of 4 balls of yarn. Shade in the model to show the number of yarn balls that are red. 

A. Jonah makes a scarf using red, brown, and purple yarn. He uses 2 balls of red yarn. He uses a total of 4 balls of yarn. Shade in the model to show the number of yarn balls that are red. 

B. What fraction of the yarn balls are not red? 

B. What fraction of the yarn balls are not red? 

For a blanket, Jonah uses 3 yarn balls that are pink-and-orange striped. He uses 2 yarn balls that are white-and-yellow striped. Draw and label a model to show what fraction of the yarn balls are pink-and-orange striped.

For a blanket, Jonah uses 3 yarn balls that are pink-and-orange striped. He uses 2 yarn balls that are white-and-yellow striped. Draw and label a model to show what fraction of the yarn balls are pink-and-orange striped.

Jonah makes a checkered blanket out of 8 balls of yarn. He uses an equal number of white yarn balls and red yarn balls. The rest of the yarn balls are blue. List 3 fractions that could represent the fraction of blue yarn balls out of the total number of balls. 

Jonah makes a checkered blanket out of 8 balls of yarn. He uses an equal number of white yarn balls and red yarn balls. The rest of the yarn balls are blue. List 3 fractions that could represent the fraction of blue yarn balls out of the total number of balls. 

Continue Your Learning

  • Choose one of your favorite hobbies, such as reading books, playing video games, or kicking a soccer ball. Then do the activity! Think about what fractions are involved in these hobbies and write them down. For example: What fraction of your video games are sports related? What fraction of your books are more than 100 pages? What fraction of kicked soccer balls were you able to get into the net?
  • Write a letter to your teacher or school suggesting a community service project you could do as a class, such as hosting a bake sale, donating books, or helping to plant a garden in the spring. Draw a diagram to show how you would set up the project or event. Use fractions in your drawing to show how you’ll separate areas into equal parts or groups.
  • Watch the video “Jonah’s Hands” above. Then choose a hobby that you like to do, such as playing a sport, crafting, or baking. Make a video of yourself participating in your hobby. Include a tutorial explaining to others what your hobby is and why you like it.

Continue Your Learning

  • Choose one of your favorite hobbies, such as reading books, playing video games, or kicking a soccer ball. Then do the activity! Think about what fractions are involved in these hobbies and write them down. For example: What fraction of your video games are sports related? What fraction of your books are more than 100 pages? What fraction of kicked soccer balls were you able to get into the net?
  • Write a letter to your teacher or school suggesting a community service project you could do as a class, such as hosting a bake sale, donating books, or helping to plant a garden in the spring. Draw a diagram to show how you would set up the project or event. Use fractions in your drawing to show how you’ll separate areas into equal parts or groups.
  • Watch the video “Jonah’s Hands” above. Then choose a hobby that you like to do, such as playing a sport, crafting, or baking. Make a video of yourself participating in your hobby. Include a tutorial explaining to others what your hobby is and why you like it.
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