Second Grade · Math · week 34

Halves, thirds, and fourths

Partition shapes into halves, thirds, and fourths, and name each equal share.

Splitting a shape into equal parts gives them special names. Two equal parts are halves, three equal parts are thirds, and four equal parts are fourths (also called quarters).

The parts MUST be equal in size for the name to count. A shape cut into two very different-sized pieces is not really split into halves.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Cut real food (a sandwich, a pancake, an apple) into halves, thirds, and fourths together -- edible fractions stick best.
  • Emphasize the word EQUAL every single time; unequal pieces do not get a fraction name, no matter how many pieces there are.
  • Practice drawing lines to split a shape, checking that the resulting pieces really do look equal.
  • Introduce "quarter" as another name for fourth, since they already know "quarter" from money and time this trimester.
Talk about it:
  • What word do we use for 2 equal parts? 3 equal parts? 4 equal parts?
  • Why does it matter that the parts are equal, not just that there are the right number of them?
  • Where have you heard the word "quarter" before this year?

Mastery looks like: They correctly name and draw halves, thirds, and fourths, insisting the parts be equal in size.

Common stumbles: Naming unequal parts with a fraction word anyway; confusing the number of parts with the size of each part.

Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Math for this learner.
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