Fractions of Shapes: Equal Parts

1. 1 Fold a piece of paper in half — but deliberately make it unequal. Ask: 'Have I made two halves?' Students discuss. Refold to make equal halves. 'Now I have two halves — because they are EQUAL.'
2. 2 Display: half = 2 equal parts. Quarter = 4 equal parts. Third = 3 equal parts. 'The bottom number tells us how many equal parts the whole is split into.'
3. 3 Students fold their paper into halves, then quarters (fold in half again). Unfold and count the sections. Shade one section. 'What fraction is shaded?' Students label: 1/4.
4. 4 Display a series of shapes — some correctly split into halves/quarters/thirds, some incorrectly. Students identify which are valid fractions and explain why the others are not.
5. 5 Students receive a sheet of shapes and instructions: 'Shade one half of the square. Shade three quarters of the rectangle. Shade one third of the circle.' They shade and write the fraction.
6. 6 Display statements: 'Half of 8 is 4.' / 'A quarter is bigger than a half.' / 'If I fold a circle into 3 equal parts, one part is one third.' Students vote and justify.
7. 7 Draw a rectangle. Students split it into quarters and shade 3/4. Write the fraction in numerals and words.

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