Teaching article
A fraction of a shape and a fraction of a set
State the whole clearly in both models before comparing the fraction named.
Put the whole in view before using fraction language. In one model it is a single region; in another it is a complete collection, and identifying that reference makes the comparison meaningful.
One half of a rectangle is an area portion; one half of eight counters is four counters.
What counts as the whole?
Specify the whole before using fraction language. One quarter of a shape and one quarter of a collection use different representations.
Identify each model's whole. Show one half in each. Explain why the quantities look different.
What is the whole in each representation? Use explicit whole labels and pointing.
The same fraction need not name the same physical amount.
Resources
- Maths Puzzle Generator — Choose arithmetic or missing-number questions only when they match the number relationship being explored.
Further reading
Read next
- Equivalent fractions: match the amount before the labels
- A bigger counter does not make a bigger collection
- Addition starts with two quantities we can identify
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