Halves, Thirds and Quarters ? Exploring Fractions

Summary
A discussion of fractions, facilitated by the teacher using visual aids, is followed by a visual problem and word problems to help the children understand the basics of fractions.

Objectives
• The children will be able to demonstrate their understanding of the functions of the numerator and the denominator of a fraction.

• The children will be able to compare the relative sizes of fractions with the same denominator.

Suggested Grades
2nd Grade
3rd Grade

Excerpt
A fraction simply means a part of a whole. Every time you share candies, or marbles and every time you cut a cake or a pizza so everybody can have an equal piece you are working with fractions.

Let?s see how this works in math. A fraction is written down as two numbers separated by a line. If you and your friend share a pizza you will need to cut it in half ? that means you will have 2 equal pieces. The number under the line in the fraction is called the denominator. This tells you how many pieces the whole was divided into. The pizza was cut into 2 so the number under the line will be 2. The number above the line is called the numerator. This tells how many equal pieces of the whole you have. You and your friend each get 1 of the pieces of pizza so the number above the line will be 1. So the fraction for one half looks like this: 1/2.

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