Introduction to Fractions

 

Learning Objectives:
By the end of the two weeks, students will be able to:

  1. Understand the meaning of fractions as parts of a whole.
  2. Identify and represent halves (1/2) and quarters (1/4) using objects, shapes, and drawings.
  3. Compare halves and quarters.
  4. Recognize fractions in daily life.
  5. Solve simple fraction-based problems.

Materials Needed:

  • Paper shapes (circles, squares, rectangles)
  • Color pencils, crayons
  • Real objects: fruits, chocolates, cakes, pizza, water bottle
  • Scissors
  • Worksheets for coloring and matching
  • Chart/board for demonstration

Week 1 – Understanding Halves and Quarters

Day 1 – What is a Fraction? (Introduction)

Concept: A fraction is a part of a whole.
Teacher Activity:

  • Show a whole apple and cut it into 2 equal parts. Explain: “Each part is called a half.”
  • Show a chocolate bar and do the same.

Student Activity:

  • Students fold a paper circle in half and color one half.
  • Ask students to share examples from home: half a sandwich, half a glass of water.

Inline Questions:

  1. If I cut an apple into 2 equal parts, what is each part called?
  2. Can you show me half of your paper circle?
  3. If I eat one half of chocolate, how much is left?
  4. How many halves make a whole?
  5. Can a half be bigger than a whole?

Day 2 – Identifying Halves in Objects

Concept: Halves are 2 equal parts of a whole.

Teacher Activity:

  • Show various objects: bread, cake, pizza. Ask students to identify halves.
  • Demonstrate using paper folding and coloring.

Student Activity:

  • Divide classroom objects (books, pencils, water bottles) into halves using drawings.

Inline Questions:

  1. How many equal parts are there in one half?
  2. Is this slice half or a whole?
  3. Can you fold your paper and show half?
  4. Which is bigger: half or whole?
  5. Can two halves make a whole?

Day 3 – Halves in Daily Life

Concept: Fractions exist in everyday life.

Teacher Activity:

  • Show real-life examples: half a sandwich, half a glass of water, half a pizza.

Student Activity:

  • Students draw or cut out examples of halves at home (homework activity).

Inline Questions:

  1. Can you find half of your snack?
  2. If you eat one half of your sandwich, how much is left?
  3. How many halves are in a whole pizza?
  4. Can you pour half of water into another glass?
  5. What is bigger: half a pizza or one slice of a four-slice pizza?

Day 4 – Introduction to Quarters

Concept: A quarter (1/4) is one part of four equal parts.

Teacher Activity:

  • Show a chocolate bar divided into 4 equal parts. Explain: “One part is called a quarter.”

Student Activity:

  • Fold paper squares into 4 parts, color one quarter.

Inline Questions:

  1. How many equal parts make a quarter?
  2. If I take one piece of chocolate, what fraction is it?
  3. How many quarters make a whole?
  4. Can a quarter be bigger than a half?
  5. Show me one quarter on your paper.

Day 5 – Identifying Quarters in Shapes and Objects

Concept: Quarters = 4 equal parts of a whole.

Teacher Activity:

  • Show objects: pizza, cakes, sandwiches, fruit, divided into quarters.
  • Color or shade one quarter on board.

Student Activity:

  • Students color one quarter on paper shapes.
  • Match objects with fractions.

Inline Questions:

  1. How many quarters make a whole?
  2. Can two quarters make a half?
  3. If I eat 2 quarters of pizza, how much is left?
  4. Show me three quarters on paper.
  5. Is one quarter bigger than one half?

Week 2 – Comparing, Practicing, and Real-Life Fractions

Day 6 – Comparing Halves and Quarters

Concept: Halves are bigger than quarters.

Teacher Activity:

  • Show paper circles: one divided into 2 halves, another into 4 quarters.
  • Compare visually.

Student Activity:

  • Students color halves and quarters and compare which is bigger.

Inline Questions:

  1. Which is bigger: half or one quarter?
  2. How many quarters make a half?
  3. Can one quarter be equal to half?
  4. Show half and quarter using your paper circle.
  5. Which is bigger: one slice of a 2-slice pizza or one slice of a 4-slice pizza?

Day 7 – Fractions in Shapes

Concept: Fractions can be represented using shapes.

Teacher Activity:

  • Draw squares, rectangles, and circles on board. Divide into halves and quarters.

Student Activity:

  • Color halves and quarters on worksheets with different shapes.

Inline Questions:

  1. Can you divide your square into 2 equal parts?
  2. How many quarters are there in your rectangle?
  3. Color one half and one quarter.
  4. How many halves are needed to make a rectangle whole?
  5. Which is bigger: one half of a circle or one quarter of a rectangle?

Day 8 – Fractions in Food

Concept: Recognizing fractions using food items.

Teacher Activity:

  • Show fruits, chocolates, cakes. Divide into halves and quarters.

Student Activity:

  • Students cut and eat food items (or draw them if actual cutting isn’t possible).

Inline Questions:

  1. If we cut a cake into 4 pieces and eat 1, what fraction is eaten?
  2. How many quarters are left?
  3. Can one half of an apple be bigger than one quarter of a cake?
  4. Show me half and quarter using chocolate pieces.
  5. How many halves make a whole pizza?

Day 9 – Fractions in Daily Objects

Concept: Fractions appear in everyday things: water, pencils, books, toys.

Teacher Activity:

  • Show objects around classroom and demonstrate halves and quarters.

Student Activity:

  • Students divide objects (like pencils, erasers) into halves and quarters using drawings or counts.

Inline Questions:

  1. Can you divide your pencil into two halves?
  2. How many quarters are there in one eraser if divided into 4 equal parts?
  3. If I give you one half of my chocolate, how much do I have left?
  4. Can one quarter be bigger than one half of a pencil?
  5. Show me one quarter using your notebook.

Day 10 – Revision, Fun Activity & Assessment

Concept: Recap halves and quarters.

Teacher Activity:

  • Use worksheets with shapes, objects, and coloring.
  • Conduct “Find the Fraction” game in class: students point out halves and quarters around them.

Student Activity:

  • Complete worksheets and play the fraction game.

Inline Questions:

  1. Find a half in your bag.
  2. Show me one quarter of your book.
  3. How many halves make a whole?
  4. How many quarters make a half?
  5. Can two quarters be equal to one half?
  6. Which is bigger: one half of a cake or one quarter of the same cake?
  7. Give one example of half and quarter from your home.