Lesson by Jennie Morris
Learning Intentions:
- To develop an understanding of halves and quarters.
Step 1: Activity overview for parent, carers and pupils
The purpose of this lesson is to find halves and quarters in practical situations. It is important to transfer mathematical skills into play and practical activities. This will help to embed understanding of fractions in a fun and practical way. Cooking with family is a lovely way to transfer your mathematical skills into a practical situation.
Some of the practical activities will require adult supervision as some involve preparation and cooking of food.
There is a short introductory video. (Approximately five minutes)
You might want to spread these activities over several days.
Step 2: Introduction to the activity and additional information
Let us start by watching a short video about halves and quarters before going on to the activities. What is a fraction?
Now having watched the video fold a piece of paper in half/two equal parts. Unfold the paper and you should have divided your paper into two equal parts. Now write ½ (half) on each section.
Now fold another piece of paper in half, then fold it in half again. Unfold the paper and you should have divided your paper into quarters/four equal parts. Now you can write ¼ on each section of the page.
Today we are going to make lunch and focus on halves and quarters at the same time. Always remember to wash your hands before cooking and make sure an adult is there to help you.
For a challenge why not bake a cake with an adult in your home. Once cooled, cut into halves then quarters and enjoy sharing it with your family.
Step 3: Tasks to carry out for this activity
Activity 1
Using your folded paper answer the following questions
- How many halves are in a whole?
- How many quarters make up a whole?
- How many quarters are in a half?
- Extension: If I have three quarters ¾, how many more quarters do I need to make a whole?
Activity 2
Now let’s make a sandwich for your lunch. Remember to wash your hands before you start and you have an adult to help you with this activity.
- Firstly, get two pieces of bread;
- Butter one side of each slice of bread;
- Choose a filling (my favourite is jam);
- Add the jam or your choice of filling on to one slice of bread;
- Place the other slices of bread on top;
- You will need help from an adult now to cut the sandwich into two halves. Be careful.
- REMEMBER both halves have to be the same size.
- Now cut the sandwich into quarters. REMEMBER the four quarters have to be the same size.
Activity 3 – (optional)
Now make a cake for afternoon tea. You will need adult support for this activity.
Follow the recipe below.
Once you cake is ready to eat. You can practise cutting your cake into halves and quarters before cutting into smaller portions for you and your family to enjoy.
Once you have completed the task you can email anything you create (photos, documents, screenshots etc.) directly to your teacher or directly upload it to any of the available places in Step 6.
Step 4: Look over the success criteria for this activity:
Success criteria #1: I know how many halves make a whole.
Success criteria #2: I know how many quarters make a whole.
Step 5: Extension and follow on activities/challenges (optional)
Activity 4
You can continue to practise halves and quarters at mealtimes. Toast and potato waffles are perfect for dividing into fractions.
Step 6: Upload your work
Click on the relevant link below if you have any work to upload to your online areas J2e Google Drive OneDrive Seesaw