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Number, Fractions and Money
Objectives
To count on in fraction steps.
Resources
Abacus Workbook 2 | Paper rectangles and circles (see below) | 📄 0–5 Number line (halves) | 📄 0–5 Number lines (quarters) | 📄 Fraction cards | Counters
Vocabulary
fractions | halves | quarters
Today's Lesson
What to Get Ready
Draw five rectangles on paper (draw round rectangular objects) of different sizes and cut them out.
Draw five circles on paper (draw round circular objects) of different sizes and cut them out.
Print and cut out (or ask your student to) the 📄 Fraction cards.
Introduction
Give your student the paper rectangles and paper circles of different sizes. Ask them to fold their circles into halves and their rectangles into quarters.
Note that to make quarters you halve twice. Also point out that \frac{2}{4} is the same as \frac{1}{2}.
Say:
- Today we are going to count on using number steps that are smaller than 1. We’ve met numbers like this before – remember, we call them fractions
Beginning with their half-circles, your student should raise their shapes one at a time to count on in halves.
Prompt them to raise their half circle saying, ‘Half,’ then to open it saying, ‘One.’
Move to the next circle and say, ‘One and a half’ and then opening that shape, saying, ‘Two.’
Repeat this with each folded circle slowly, until you reach 10, then repeat from the beginning to consolidate.
Your student will need this repetition to appreciate the counting pattern.
Say:
- Numbers that have a whole and a fraction part are called mixed numbers.
Annotate the 📄 0 to 5 number line (halves), showing how we write ‘one and a half’ as 1\frac{1}{2} and ‘two and a half’ as 2\frac{1}{2} , and so on.
Next, use the rectangles which were folded into quarters. Your student should begin with them folded twice, so that only \frac{1}{4} is showing.
Begin: one quarter; then open up the rectangle to reveal two quarters; then open up the shape again to point to three quarters; then one.
Support your student with pointing to their shapes and counting: 1 and one quarter, 1 and two quarters, 1 and three quarters, 2, and so on.
Repeat this slowly until you reach 5, then start again at \frac{1}{4}.
Model writing numbers on the 📄 0 to 5 number line (quarters) ‘one and a quarter’ as 1\frac{1}{4} and ‘two and three quarters’ as 2 \frac{3}{4}, and so on.
Remind your student that \frac{2}{4} is the same as \frac{1}{2}, then repeat the rectangle counting activity, this time saying ‘half’ instead of ‘two quarters’.
This video shows, using diagrams of circles and rectangles, how to count in halves and quarters.
Main Activity
Shuffle the 📄 Fraction cards and place them face down on the table.
Play as a pair.
The first player turns over a card and counts on to that number, from zero, in halves and quarters along the 📄 0 to 5 number line (quarters). They place a counter at that point.
The second player turns over a card and moves the marker along the line by that amount. For example, if the marker is on \frac{3}{4} and a \frac{1}{2} is drawn then the marker is moved on to 1\frac{1}{4} .
If a player lands on a whole number they collect a counter.
When 5 is reached, shuffle the cards and start again.
Workbook
To help your student consolidate their learning from today, please ask them to complete the activities on pages 37 and 38 of Abacus Workbook 2.