Square It Up: Halves and Fourths!

Math Grades 1st Grade 8:10 Video
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Lesson Description

Let's explore how to divide squares into equal parts! We'll learn about halves and fourths by folding, drawing, and coloring.

Video Resource

Grade 1: Math Lesson #88 Dividing A Square Into Fourths; Colouring Halves and Fourths

The Eagle's Nest - Our Online Classroom

Duration: 8:10
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Halves
  • Fourths (Quarters)
  • Equal Parts
  • Partitioning

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to divide a square into two equal halves.
  • Students will be able to divide a square into four equal fourths.
  • Students will be able to identify and describe halves and fourths using correct vocabulary.
  • Students will be able to recognize that two fourths equal one half.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by reviewing the video. Ask students if they know what a square is. Discuss how we can cut a shape into equal pieces. Introduce the terms 'half' and 'fourth'.
  • Creating Squares (10 mins)
    Guide students to transform rectangular paper into squares. Have students follow the video's instructions to fold and cut the paper. Discuss why this method creates a square.
  • Dividing into Halves (10 mins)
    Have students fold a square in half, creating a line from one corner to the opposite corner. Ask: 'How many pieces do we have now?' Explain that this is dividing the square into two equal halves.
  • Dividing into Fourths (15 mins)
    Guide students to divide the square into fourths using different methods shown in the video (diagonally and with straight lines). For each method, ask: 'How many pieces do we have now? Are they all the same size?' Emphasize that fourths are four equal parts.
  • Coloring and Identifying (10 mins)
    Have students color one fourth of each square. Ask: 'How many parts did you color? How many parts are there in total? What fraction of the square is colored?' Discuss how two fourths equal one half by coloring in two fourths on one of the squares.

Interactive Exercises

  • Paper Folding Fractions
    Provide students with multiple squares of paper. Instruct them to fold and cut the squares into halves and fourths in different ways. Have them label each section with '1/2' or '1/4'.
  • Fraction Sorting
    Create cards with pictures of squares divided into different fractions (halves, fourths, not equal parts). Have students sort the cards into groups based on whether they show halves, fourths, or neither.

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean for something to be divided into equal parts?
  • Can you think of other things we divide into halves or fourths in everyday life?
  • How are halves and fourths related?

Skills Developed

  • Fine motor skills (cutting and folding)
  • Spatial reasoning
  • Fractional understanding
  • Problem-solving

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What do we call it when we cut something into 2 equal parts?

Correct Answer: Halves

Question 2:

How many equal parts do you need to make fourths?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 3:

Which of these shows a square divided into FOURTHS?

Correct Answer: A square with 4 equal parts

Question 4:

If you color ONE part of a square that's divided into FOURTHS, how many parts are NOT colored?

Correct Answer: 3

Question 5:

Which is bigger: one HALF of a square or one FOURTH of a square?

Correct Answer: One Half

Question 6:

How many FOURTHS make up a whole square?

Correct Answer: 4

Question 7:

Two FOURTHS of a square is the same as...

Correct Answer: One Half

Question 8:

If you cut a pizza into FOUR equal pieces, what are those called?

Correct Answer: Fourths

Question 9:

What shape are we dividing into HALVES and FOURTHS?

Correct Answer: Square

Question 10:

If you have a cake and want to share it with 3 friends, how many equal parts do you cut it into to make FOURTHS?

Correct Answer: 4

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

When you cut something into two equal parts, each part is called a ______.

Correct Answer: half

Question 2:

A square divided into four equal parts is divided into ______.

Correct Answer: fourths

Question 3:

One fourth is one part out of ______ total parts.

Correct Answer: four

Question 4:

Two fourths is the same as one ______.

Correct Answer: half

Question 5:

We can use lines to divide a square into ______.

Correct Answer: fourths

Question 6:

Each fourth must be the ______ size.

Correct Answer: same

Question 7:

If you color one fourth of a square, you colored ______ part.

Correct Answer: one

Question 8:

A whole square can be divided into two ______.

Correct Answer: halves

Question 9:

If you eat one fourth of a cookie, there are ______ fourths left.

Correct Answer: three

Question 10:

Another word for fourth is ______.

Correct Answer: quarter

Educational Standards

CCSS.Math.Content.1.G.A.3:Partition circles and rectangles into two and four equal shares, describe the shares using the words halves, fourths, and quarters, and use the phrases half of, fourth of, and quarter of. Describe the whole as two of, or four of the shares. Understand for these examples that decomposing into more equal shares creates smaller shares. CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.A.1:Use addition and subtraction within 20 to solve word problems involving situations of adding to, taking from, putting together, taking apart, and comparing, with unknowns in all positions, e.g., by using objects, drawings, and equations with a symbol for the unknown number to represent the problem.

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