Apple Fractions: Halves, Thirds, and Fourths!

Math Grades 1st Grade 8:57 Video
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Lesson Description

Let's explore fractions using yummy apples! We'll learn about halves, thirds, and fourths, and see how math can be delicious.

Video Resource

Grade 1: Saxon Math Lesson # 107 Identifying One Half, One Third, and One Fourth

The Eagle's Nest - Our Online Classroom

Duration: 8:57
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Fractions represent parts of a whole.
  • A half is one of two equal parts.
  • A third is one of three equal parts.
  • A fourth (or quarter) is one of four equal parts.
  • The more equal parts you divide a whole into, the smaller each part becomes.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify one-half, one-third, and one-fourth of a whole object.
  • Students will be able to divide an object (with assistance) into halves, thirds and fourths.
  • Students will be able to use the terms 'half,' 'third,' and 'fourth' to describe fractional parts.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they've ever shared food with someone. Ask, 'If you share your cookie with a friend, what do you do?' Explain that today, we will learn about sharing and fractions using apples!
  • Video Viewing (7 mins)
    Play the YouTube video 'Grade 1: Saxon Math Lesson # 107 Identifying One Half, One Third, and One Fourth.' Encourage students to watch carefully as Mrs. Lawson cuts the apples.
  • Discussion (5 mins)
    After the video, ask students what they learned about halves, thirds, and fourths. Review the definitions and show examples on the board using circles or squares.
  • Apple Activity (10 mins)
    Provide each student (or pair of students) with an apple (or a picture of an apple). Guide them to draw lines to divide the apple into halves, thirds, and fourths. They can color each section a different color. *Note: Actual cutting of apples should be done by an adult or older student for safety*.
  • Wrap-Up (3 mins)
    Review the key concepts and remind students that fractions are parts of a whole.

Interactive Exercises

  • Fraction Matching Game
    Create cards with pictures of shapes divided into halves, thirds, and fourths. Also, create cards with the written fractions (1/2, 1/3, 1/4). Have students match the picture to the correct fraction.

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean to cut something in half?
  • How many pieces do you need to make a whole apple if you have fourths?
  • Is one half bigger or smaller than one fourth? Why?

Skills Developed

  • Fraction identification
  • Part-whole understanding
  • Visual representation of fractions

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What is this shape cut into?

Correct Answer: Halves

Question 2:

Which fraction is this?

Correct Answer: 1/3

Question 3:

If you cut a cookie in half, how many pieces do you have?

Correct Answer: 2

Question 4:

Which has more pieces: a cake cut into thirds or a cake cut into fourths?

Correct Answer: Fourths

Question 5:

What is one of four equal pieces called?

Correct Answer: A fourth

Question 6:

What is one of two equal pieces called?

Correct Answer: A half

Question 7:

If you share an apple with two friends so that the apple is split equally, how many pieces do you need?

Correct Answer: 3

Question 8:

If you have a whole pizza, is it bigger or smaller than a half of a pizza?

Correct Answer: Bigger

Question 9:

This is a circle split into ______.

Correct Answer: Fourths

Question 10:

Which picture shows one half shaded?

Correct Answer: [Imagine a circle with 1/2 shaded]

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

A half is one of _____ equal pieces.

Correct Answer: two

Question 2:

A third is one of _____ equal pieces.

Correct Answer: three

Question 3:

A fourth is one of _____ equal pieces.

Correct Answer: four

Question 4:

If you cut a sandwich into two equal pieces, you have cut it in ______.

Correct Answer: half

Question 5:

If you have one piece of a pie that was cut into three pieces, you have one ______ of the pie.

Correct Answer: third

Question 6:

Another word for one-fourth is one _____.

Correct Answer: quarter

Question 7:

A whole cookie is _____ than a half of a cookie.

Correct Answer: bigger

Question 8:

The fraction 1/2 is read as one _____.

Correct Answer: half

Question 9:

The fraction 1/4 is read as one _____.

Correct Answer: fourth

Question 10:

When you divide something into fractions, you divide it into _______ parts.

Correct Answer: equal

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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