Cinderella's Fractions: Finding Half with Fairy Tales!

Math Grades 1st Grade 9:00 Video
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Lesson Description

Learn about fractions by helping Cinderella divide her magical items in half! This lesson uses a fun, visual approach to understand the concept of one-half.

Video Resource

Fractions Practice | 1st Grade | Math - Kids Academy

Kids Academy

Duration: 9:00
Watch on YouTube

Key Concepts

  • Fractions: Understanding one-half
  • Equal Shares: Dividing a group into two equal parts
  • Counting: Determining the total number of objects in a group

Learning Objectives

  • Students will be able to divide a group of objects into two equal shares (halves).
  • Students will be able to identify if a group of objects can be divided evenly in half.
  • Students will be able to count objects to determine the total and the number in each half.

Educator Instructions

  • Introduction (5 mins)
    Begin by asking students if they know who Cinderella is. Briefly discuss the story and show the video. Tell them they'll be helping Cinderella with fractions!
  • Guided Practice (15 mins)
    Watch the Kids Academy video together as a class. Pause the video at each example. Ask students to predict the halfway point before the video reveals it. Discuss the strategies used in the video (crossing off objects on each side).
  • Independent Practice (15 mins)
    Provide students with a worksheet containing similar problems to the video. They should count the objects, try to divide them in half by drawing a line, and determine if the group can be divided evenly. If it cannot, they should mark an X on the problem.
  • Wrap-up (5 mins)
    Review the answers to the worksheet. Ask students to share their strategies for finding half. Reiterate the concept of equal shares and what it means for something to be divided in half.

Interactive Exercises

  • Sharing Game
    Give students a small bag of counters (e.g., buttons, beans). Ask them to divide the counters in half and share them with a partner. Discuss if it's possible to divide all amounts evenly.
  • Drawing Halves
    Provide students with pre-drawn pictures of objects (circles, squares, groups of stars). Ask them to draw a line to divide each object or group in half.

Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean to divide something in half?
  • Can you always divide a group of things in half? Why or why not?
  • Can you think of a time when you had to share something and divide it in half?

Skills Developed

  • Counting
  • Problem-solving
  • Understanding Fractions

Multiple Choice Questions

Question 1:

What does it mean to divide something in half?

Correct Answer: To make two equal groups

Question 2:

If you have 4 cookies and you want to give half to your friend, how many cookies do they get?

Correct Answer: 2

Question 3:

Which of these numbers can be divided in half evenly?

Correct Answer: 2

Question 4:

If a group has 6 stars, how many stars are in half of the group?

Correct Answer: 3

Question 5:

Which picture shows something divided in half?

Correct Answer: A circle with two equal pieces

Question 6:

What is half of 10?

Correct Answer: 5

Question 7:

Can you divide 5 toys evenly between 2 friends?

Correct Answer: No

Question 8:

What plus what equals 8, if you are making halves?

Correct Answer: 4 + 4

Question 9:

If you cut a cake into two equal pieces, what are the pieces called?

Correct Answer: Halves

Question 10:

Which number is an odd number?

Correct Answer: 3

Fill in the Blank Questions

Question 1:

When you cut something in ______, you have two equal pieces.

Correct Answer: half

Question 2:

Half of 4 is ______.

Correct Answer: 2

Question 3:

If you can divide a group into two equal parts, it is divided ______.

Correct Answer: evenly

Question 4:

The number 6 divided by 2 is ______.

Correct Answer: 3

Question 5:

Half of 2 is ______.

Correct Answer: 1

Question 6:

If something cannot be split into halves, it has one ______ out.

Correct Answer: odd

Question 7:

When you put two halves together, you get one ______.

Correct Answer: whole

Question 8:

We can use _______ to cross off items to find half.

Correct Answer: lines

Question 9:

A group with 5 items is hard to split in ____.

Correct Answer: half

Question 10:

If there are 10 candies, and you want to share it equally with a friend, you each get ______ candies.

Correct Answer: 5

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. CCSS.Math.Content.1.OA.C.6:Add and subtract within 20, demonstrating fluency for addition and subtraction within 10. Use strategies such as counting on; making ten (e.g., 8 + 6 = 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14); decomposing a number leading to a ten (e.g., 13 - 4 = 13 - 3 - 1 = 10 - 1 = 9); using the relationship between addition and subtraction (e.g., knowing that 8 + 4 = 12, one knows 12 - 8 = 4); and creating equivalent but easier or known sums (e.g., adding 6 + 7 by creating the known equivalent 6 + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1 = 13).

Teaching Materials

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