Halves and Fourths: Sharing Shapes Equally!

Math Grades 1st Grade 2:24 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn how to divide shapes into two (halves) or four (fourths) equal parts. Understand what it means for each part to be the same size!

Video Resource

Halves and fourths | Geometry | Early Math | Khan Academy

Khan Academy

Duration: 2:24
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Halves: Dividing a shape into two equal parts.
  • Fourths (or Quarters): Dividing a shape into four equal parts.
  • Equal Shares: Each part of the divided shape must be the same size.

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to identify shapes divided into halves.
  • Students will be able to identify shapes divided into fourths (or quarters).
  • Students will be able to explain that halves and fourths represent equal parts of a whole.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they have ever shared something with a friend. How do they make sure the share is fair? Introduce the idea of equal parts.
  • Video Viewing (5 mins)
    Watch the Khan Academy video "Halves and fourths | Geometry | Early Math | Khan Academy" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lSTXtwPuOU). Pause as needed to ask clarifying questions.
  • Guided Practice (10 mins)
    Draw different shapes on the board (circles, squares, rectangles). Guide students in dividing each shape into halves and fourths. Emphasize that the parts must be equal. Use the terms 'halves,' 'fourths,' and 'quarters' interchangeably.
  • Independent Practice (10 mins)
    Provide students with pre-drawn shapes on a worksheet. Have them draw lines to divide the shapes into halves or fourths, as instructed. They can also color code each section.
  • Wrap-up (5 mins)
    Review the concepts of halves and fourths. Ask students to give real-world examples of when they might need to divide something into equal parts.

Interactive Exercises

  • Shape Sorting
    Provide students with cut-out shapes that are divided into halves, fourths, or not divided at all. Have them sort the shapes into categories.
  • Drawing Halves and Fourths
    Give students blank paper and ask them to draw a circle, a square, and a rectangle. Then, have them divide each shape into halves and then into fourths, using a ruler to help them draw straight lines.

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean for something to be divided in half?
  • How many equal parts do you need to make fourths?
  • Can you think of a time you had to share something equally?
  • Is it halves when the shapes are not the same size?

Skills Developed

  • Visual Discrimination
  • Spatial Reasoning
  • Understanding Fractions as Equal Parts

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

Which shape is divided into two equal parts?

Correct Answer: A square with 2 parts that are the same size

Question 2:

What do we call two equal parts of a shape?

Correct Answer: Halves

Question 3:

Which shape is divided into four equal parts?

Correct Answer: A rectangle with 4 parts that are the same size

Question 4:

What is another name for fourths?

Correct Answer: Quarters

Question 5:

If you cut a pizza into halves, how many pieces will you have?

Correct Answer: Three

Question 6:

Which picture shows halves?

Correct Answer: A shape with 2 equal parts.

Question 7:

If you cut a cake into quarters, how many pieces will you have?

Correct Answer: Four

Question 8:

Which picture shows fourths?

Correct Answer: A shape with 4 equal parts.

Question 9:

What is important when you divide a shape into halves or fourths?

Correct Answer: The parts need to be equal sizes.

Question 10:

Which of these is NOT divided equally?

Correct Answer: A piece of paper torn in half, where one piece is bigger than the other.

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

When you divide something into two equal parts, it is called ________.

Correct Answer: halves

Question 2:

Four equal parts of a shape are called ________.

Correct Answer: fourths

Question 3:

Another word for fourths is ________.

Correct Answer: quarters

Question 4:

When you share something, the parts should be ________ so everyone gets the same amount.

Correct Answer: equal

Question 5:

A pizza cut into _______ will have 2 pieces.

Correct Answer: halves

Question 6:

A cake cut into _______ will have 4 pieces.

Correct Answer: fourths

Question 7:

If you have one _______ of a cookie, you have one of two equal pieces.

Correct Answer: half

Question 8:

If you have one _______ of a pie, you have one of four equal pieces.

Correct Answer: quarter

Question 9:

When dividing shapes, make sure each part is the same ______.

Correct Answer: size

Question 10:

A rectangle divided into two sections must have the same _______.

Correct Answer: area

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.

Teaching Materials

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