A basketball court designed to bring fractions to life
El Sol Science and Arts Academy Fraction Ball
At El Sol Science and Arts Academy, the Fraxtion Ball installation transforms a traditional basketball court into an active math learning environment. By integrating fractional and decimal values directly into the court’s design, the space invites students to explore rational number concepts through movement, gameplay, and friendly competition.
Different shooting zones correspond to fractional and decimal values, while a visual number line helps players track scores and see mathematical relationships unfold in real time. As students run, aim, and calculate, they experience math as something physical and dynamic rather than abstract, reinforcing understanding through embodied learning and active play.
The Learning Goals
The Fraxtion Ball installation strengthens content knowledge by helping students understand fractions and decimals through physical movement and visual number relationships embedded directly into the court design. It supports critical thinking as players calculate scores, compare values, and reason through equivalent fractions in real time during gameplay.
The installation also fosters communication and collaboration as students explain their thinking, strategize with teammates, and problem-solve together. Through repeated active participation, students build confidence in their mathematical reasoning and their ability to apply concepts in a dynamic, real-world setting.
The Team
Fraction Ball was created through a collaboration between Playful Learning Landscapes, Andrés Bustamante and colleagues from University of California, Irvine School of Education, El Sol Science and Art Academy, and Santa Ana Unified School District.
Supporters
The implementation of El Sol’s Fraction Ball court was generously supported by the Advanced Education Research and Development Fund’s (AERDF) EF+Math Program.
