Fractions
🎯 In this topic you will
- Find half of a given shape.
- Recognise when a shape has not been split into equal halves.
- Combine two halves correctly to form a whole shape.
🧠 Key Words
- equal
- fraction
- half
- pair
- part
Show Definitions
- equal: Having the same size, amount, or value as another.
- fraction: A number that represents a part of a whole.
- half: One of two equal parts of a whole.
- pair: A group of two items that belong together.
- part: A piece or section that makes up a whole.
🍰 Sharing Fairly with Fractions
We use fractions to help us share fairly. When something is shared into equal parts, each person gets the same amount. Fractions are used in everyday life to show parts of a whole.
👟 Understanding a Pair
This is a pair of shoes. Two shoes make one pair. One shoe is half of that pair, so we need to match the shoes correctly to make the complete pair.
❓ EXERCISES
1. Draw a line on each shape to show two halves.
👀 Show answer
2. Draw a line on each shape to show two pieces that are not halves.
👀 Show answer
3. Draw a ring around the shapes that have been folded in half.
👀 Show answer
4. This is one half of a house. Draw the other half to make a whole house.
👀 Show answer
5. Draw half of each of these shapes.
👀 Show answer
🧠 Think like a Mathematician
You will need: $2$ paper squares the same size but different colours, scissors, glue, a piece of paper.
Method:
- Fold one square in half, corner to corner.
- Cut along the fold line. You have $2$ triangles.
- Fold one of the triangles in half.
- Cut along the fold. You now have $2$ small triangles.
- Fold the other square side to side.
- Cut along the fold. You have $2$ halves.
- Fold them in half.
- Cut along the fold. You have $4$ small squares.
Make a pattern using all your shapes so that the edges fit together.
Compare your pattern with other patterns.
Is it the same or is it different?
Show Answers
- Pattern result: Your pattern may look different from others, but the shapes should fit together without gaps if the folds and cuts were accurate.
- Comparison: Some patterns will be the same and some different because shapes can be arranged in many valid ways.
- Key idea: Folding into equal parts creates matching pieces that can be recombined to form new patterns.