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Welcome to Fractions! – What are fractions? – Fractions represent equal parts of a whole. – Exploring halves – When something is divided into 2 equal parts, each part is a half. – Discovering thirds – If we divide something into 3 equal parts, each part is a third. – Learning about fourths – Dividing something into 4 equal parts gives us fourths. | Begin the lesson by introducing the concept of fractions to the first graders, explaining that fractions are a way to show parts of a whole. Use visual aids like a pie chart or a pizza to illustrate how a whole can be divided into equal parts. Explain halves by cutting an object, like an apple, into two equal pieces. For thirds, use an object like a sandwich and cut it into three equal parts. Lastly, for fourths, use a paper square and fold it to create four equal parts. Encourage the students to think of other examples of halves, thirds, and fourths in their environment. The goal is to help them visualize and understand that fractions are simply parts of a whole and that these parts are equal.

Understanding Fractions: Equal Parts – Fractions are parts of a whole – Imagine a pizza cut into pieces – If a pizza is cut into 2, 3, or 4 equal parts – Each piece is a fraction of the pizza – One slice out of the total slices represents a fraction – Halves, thirds, and fourths are examples – Halves (1/2), thirds (1/3), and fourths (1/4) show parts of a pizza | This slide introduces the concept of fractions to first graders by relating it to something familiar: a pizza. Explain that fractions are a way to describe equal parts of one whole thing. Use the pizza example to show visually how a whole can be divided into equal parts, and each part is a fraction of the whole. Emphasize the terms halves, thirds, and fourths by discussing how many slices result from cutting a pizza into 2, 3, or 4 equal parts. This will help students grasp the concept of fractions in a tangible way. Encourage students to think of other examples of dividing things into equal parts, like sharing snacks or splitting a sandwich.

Meet the Halves – Cutting into 2 equal parts – Each part is called a half – Example: Cutting an apple – Imagine slicing an apple into two same-size pieces – Each piece is one half – One piece is one half; both pieces make a whole | This slide introduces the concept of halves to first-grade students. Begin by explaining that when any object is divided into two equal parts, each part is called a half. Use a real apple or a visual representation to demonstrate cutting it into two equal pieces. Emphasize that each piece is the same size and is called one half of the apple. Encourage students to think of other objects that can be divided into halves. Activities can include cutting out paper shapes and dividing them into halves, or sharing snacks like crackers or sandwiches equally among two students. The goal is to help students visually and practically understand the concept of halves as a foundation for learning fractions.

Discovering Thirds – Cutting into 3 equal parts – Each part is a third – A third is 1 out of 3 equal parts – Example: Sandwich in thirds – Imagine dividing a sandwich for 3 friends – One piece is one third – If you eat one, you’ve had one third | This slide introduces the concept of thirds to first graders. Begin by explaining that when an object is cut into three equal parts, each part is called a third. Use tangible examples like cutting a sandwich, pizza, or a paper into three pieces to illustrate the point. Show that each piece represents one third of the whole. It’s important to emphasize the word ‘equal’ to ensure students understand that all parts must be the same size. You can bring a play sandwich or a paper to class and demonstrate cutting it into thirds. Encourage students to think of other items that can be shared equally between three people. This will help them grasp the concept of thirds in a fun and interactive way.

Exploring Fourths – Fourths: 4 equal parts – When an item is cut into 4 equal sections, each is called a fourth. – Imagine dividing a cookie – Picture a round cookie split into 4 equal slices. – Each part is one fourth – If you have one slice, you have 1/4 of the entire cookie. – Four fourths make a whole | This slide introduces the concept of fourths to first graders. Begin by explaining that when we cut something into four equal parts, each part is called a fourth. Use a familiar example, like a cookie, to help them visualize the concept. Show them that if we take one of those four equal pieces, we have one fourth of the cookie. Emphasize that all four pieces together make up the whole cookie again. Encourage students to think of other items that can be divided into fourths and bring some examples to the next class. This will help them understand the concept of equal parts and how they relate to the whole.

Understanding Equal Parts in Fractions – Fractions represent equal parts – Halves must be the same size – Imagine cutting a sandwich into 2 pieces; both pieces should be the same – Thirds are three equal parts – Like cutting a pizza into 3 slices; all slices are the same size – Fourths are four equal parts – Think of a pie cut into 4 pieces; each piece is equal | This slide introduces the concept of fractions to first graders by emphasizing the importance of equal parts. It’s crucial for students to understand that for a shape to be divided into fractions whether halves, thirds, or fourths each part must be of equal size. Use tangible examples like food items that children are familiar with to illustrate the concept. For instance, show how a sandwich or a pizza can be cut into equal parts to visually represent halves, thirds, and fourths. Reinforce the idea that all parts must be equal to be considered a fraction. Activities can include cutting paper shapes into fractions or using fraction circles to demonstrate equal parts.

Fun with Fractions: Sharing Equally – Fractions for equal sharing – Example: 4 cookies, 4 friends – If we divide 4 cookies among 4 friends, each friend gets 1 cookie. – Each friend gets one fourth – One fourth means 1 out of 4 equal parts. – Fair sharing is fun! | This slide introduces the concept of fractions to first graders by relating it to the idea of fair sharing, which is a principle they understand and value. Use real-life examples like sharing cookies to make the concept relatable. Emphasize that fractions are a way to ensure everyone gets an equal part of something. This can be a fun and interactive part of the lesson where students can engage in activities that involve dividing objects into equal parts. For instance, use paper cut-outs of pizzas or pies to visually demonstrate how a whole can be divided into halves, thirds, or fourths. Encourage students to think of other situations where they share equally, like splitting a sandwich or sharing crayons.

Class Activity: Fraction Art – Learn fractions with paper folding – Fold paper into halves, thirds, fourths – Color each fraction a different color – Use colors like red for 1/2, yellow for 1/3, blue for 1/4 – Observe the different fractions | This activity is designed to help first graders visually understand the concept of fractions by creating art. Provide each student with a sheet of paper and guide them through the process of folding it into halves, thirds, and fourths. Once the folds are made, ask the students to color each section in different colors to represent the fractions. This hands-on activity will help them see how a whole can be divided into equal parts. For the teacher: Prepare a few examples beforehand to show the class. Make sure to have enough coloring supplies for all students. Walk around the classroom to assist any student who might be struggling with the folding process. After the activity, discuss with the class how the different folds represent different fractions.