basic fractions

Year 2 maths

Australian curriculum Learning objectives

•ACMNA033[1]: Recognise and interpret common uses of halves, quarters and eighths of shapes and collections.

Resources required

•Maths basics: reading and writing fractions[2] (Duration: 2.31) plus facilities to watch online video

•Pizza fractions game[3]

•Fractions problem solving worksheet[4]

Lesson outcome: Students learn about the common usage of fractions.

Lesson outline:
  1. Introduce lesson by drawing students’ attention to the term ‘fractions’. Reinforce to students that the term ‘fractions’ simply refers to ‘a part of something’. Provide an example related to students having dinner with their family, in which it can be explained that all family members receive a part of the meal.
  2. Introduce the clip Maths basics: reading and writing fractions. Explain to students that they will be introduced to two important new terms in the video: ‘numerator’ and ‘denominator’. Draw a picture of a cake on the board and prompt students to explain what half of the cake would look like. Write this fraction as ½ and demonstrate that the numerator is the number above the line which refers to how many parts there are in the fraction, and the denominator is the number below the line which refers to the size of the whole. Relate this directly to the example of a cake and students existing understanding of the term ‘half’.
  3. Students work as partners to explore the fractions ½, ¼, and then 1/8 using classroom objects, blocks etc
  4. Play Maths basics: reading and writing fractions.
  5. Introduce the activity on the associated pizza fractions worksheet. Explain that students need to cut around the outline of the pizza slices and fractions cards and will then participate in a game in which their understanding of fractions will be tested.
  6. Replay Math’s basics: reading and writing fractions.
  7. Facilitate the pizza fractions game in which students work in small groups. At any time, one student in each small group is the ‘leader’. The leader must choose the fraction (from one of the fractions cards) which their group members have to identify (by choosing the correct card) and make (using their individually cut pizza slices). During this time, supervise the groups to gauge the level of understanding amongst students.
  8. Explain any common mistakes which students appeared to be making during the activity.
  9. Direct students toward the fraction problem solving worksheet. This requires students to correctly identify fractions in given scenarios.

Homework/extension

Students create their own game which requires participants to use their understanding of fractions.The activity in which students participated in class could be used as an example.

Opportunity for further activity

Students explore and complete What are Fractions?[5]online activity.

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