Fractions: Halves, Quarters and Thirds

Method

1. Start with real objects or food rather than a worksheet: cut a paper circle or a real pancake into 2 pieces and check the pieces match exactly by placing one on top of the other before calling them halves.
2. Move to quarters by folding the same shape in half twice, so the child sees 4 equal parts appear from repeated halving, and can count that 4 quarters make one whole and 2 quarters make one half.
3. Only introduce thirds once halves and quarters are secure, since 3 does not fold as neatly as 2 and 4; cut or fold into 3 parts and check they are equal by comparing them side by side.
4. Move to pictures: show a shape already split into equal parts with one part shaded, and ask the child to name the fraction shown, always checking first that the parts really are equal.
5. Apply the same idea to a group of objects rather than a shape, since this trips children up: to find 1/2 of 8 sweets, physically share the sweets into 2 equal groups and count how many are in one group.
6. Watch for the classic 'bigger number means bigger piece' misconception: children often think 1/4 is bigger than 1/2 because 4 is a bigger number than 2. Use two real pieces side by side to show a quarter piece is actually smaller than a half piece.
7. Only once the physical idea is solid should you introduce the written form 1/2, 1/4 and 1/3, always alongside the spoken words 'a half', 'a quarter' and 'a third'.

Practice questions

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Free printable worksheet