Can you remember...

If you have one half of an orange and Ben has the other half. What does the two halves make when you put them together?

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We have a whole orange.

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I believe in doing all the introductions to any math concept practical so today we will be revising yesterdays' half and whole activity together with the introductions of quarters and thirds.

Activity 1: Playing with clay

You will need the following:

1. Clay
2. Cookie cutters or knifes

Instructions:

1. Let the learners make a circle with the clay provided.
2. Instruct them to cut the circle in half. How many pieces do they have?
3. Put the pieces back together.
4. Introduce the concept of thirds.
   4.1. Put your clay back into one piece.
   4.2. Divide the clay into three pieces.
   4.3. Take one piece in your hand: You have a third in your hand.
   4.4. Take two pieces in your hand: You have two thirds in your hand.
   4.5. Take all three pieces in your hand: You have a whole in your hand.
5. Introduce the concept of quarters.
   5.1. Put your clay back into one piece.
   5.2. Divide the clay into four pieces.
   5.3. Take one piece in your hand: You have a quarter in your hand.
   5.4. Take two pieces in your hand: You have two quarters in your hand.
   5.5. Take three pieces in your hand: You have three quarters in your hand.
   5.6. Take all four pieces in your hand: You have a whole in your hand.
   It is very important to show the learners the importance of the terminology, let them repeat after you everytime.

Activity 2: Fractions puzzles

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You will need the following:

1. Pictures put into puzzles cut into up to four pieces.

Instructions:

1. Let your learner build puzzles, but before they build a puzzle ask them how many pieces, if you take away one piece how many pieces do you have left?
2. This is a great way to see if they have mastered these fraction concepts.

Activity 3: Craft Fraction Pie

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You will need the following:

1. Paper plates
2. Crayons
3. Scissors

Instructions

1. Let each child color their pie.
2. Provide each learner with a fraction of the pie that they need to cut out.
3. See to it that they cut out the correct amount and the correct size of the piece.

Have fun!

Links to the previous fraction post:

1. Kindergarten: Introduction to fractions

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