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Fraction Fun: Whole, Halves & Fourths!

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Lesson Plan

Fraction Fun: Whole, Halves & Fourths!

Students will be able to identify and demonstrate equivalent fractions using wholes, halves, and fourths through visual and hands-on activities.

Understanding equivalent fractions helps us see how different parts can make up the same whole. This skill is important for cooking, sharing, and building things!

Audience

Elementary School Students (Severe Autism)

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Hands-on exploration with visual models and repetitive practice.

Materials

Fraction Circles/Tiles (magnetic or paper) – Visual Fraction Tiles, Whiteboard or large display, Slide Deck: Whole, Halves, & Fourths, Fraction Matching Worksheet, and Crayons or Markers

Prep

Preparation

15 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: What's a Whole?

5 minutes

  • Begin by holding up a whole circle or tile.
  • Ask students: "What is this?" Guide them to say "A whole!" or "One whole!"
  • Show the first slide of the Slide Deck: Whole, Halves, & Fourths (Slide 1) to reinforce the concept of a whole.
  • Distribute one whole fraction tile to each student. Have them touch it and say "Whole!"

Step 2

Introducing Halves

8 minutes

  • Hold up a whole and then two halves.
  • Say: "Look! I can split my whole into two equal parts. These are called halves!"
  • Demonstrate placing two half tiles together to form a whole. "Two halves make one whole!"
  • Show Slide 2 and 3 of the Slide Deck: Whole, Halves, & Fourths. Repeat the phrase: "Two halves make one whole." Ask students to repeat.
  • Have students take their whole tile and two half tiles. Guide them to put the two halves on top of the whole to show they are the same amount.

Step 3

Discovering Fourths

8 minutes

  • Now, hold up a whole and then four fourths.
  • Say: "Wow! We can also split our whole into four equal parts. These are called fourths!"
  • Demonstrate placing four fourths together to form a whole. "Four fourths make one whole!"
  • Show Slide 4 and 5 of the Slide Deck: Whole, Halves, & Fourths. Repeat: "Four fourths make one whole." Ask students to repeat.
  • Guide students to take four fourths tiles and place them on top of their whole tile.

Step 4

Equivalent Fractions: Halves and Fourths

7 minutes

  • Hold up one half tile. Ask: "This is one half. How many fourths do you think make one half?"
  • Guide students to place fourths on top of their half tile until it's covered. "Look! Two fourths is the same as one half!"
  • Show Slide 6 of the Slide Deck: Whole, Halves, & Fourths. Repeat: "One half is the same as two fourths."
  • Distribute the Fraction Matching Worksheet. Guide students to match the halves to the equivalent fourths by coloring or drawing lines. Provide one-on-one support as needed.
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Slide Deck

What's a Whole?

A whole is one complete thing! It's 1!

(Image: A single, solid circle)

Introduce the concept of a 'whole'. Show a physical whole fraction piece and have students touch it and say 'Whole!'

Halves!

A whole can be split into TWO EQUAL PARTS.

These are called HALVES.

(Image: A circle divided into two equal halves)

Introduce 'halves'. Show how a whole can be split. Emphasize 'two equal parts'.

Two Halves = One Whole

If you put two halves together, you get a whole!

(Image: Two half circles combining to form a whole circle)

Reinforce that two halves make one whole. Use physical manipulatives to demonstrate.

Fourths!

A whole can also be split into FOUR EQUAL PARTS.

These are called FOURTHS.

(Image: A circle divided into four equal fourths)

Introduce 'fourths'. Show how a whole can be split into four parts.

Four Fourths = One Whole

If you put four fourths together, you get a whole!

(Image: Four fourth circles combining to form a whole circle)

Reinforce that four fourths make one whole. Use physical manipulatives.

Equivalent Fractions: Halves & Fourths

One half is the SAME as two fourths!

(Image: One half circle next to two fourth circles, showing they are the same size)

This is the key concept of equivalence. Demonstrate with physical pieces first, then show the slide. Guide students to match on their desks.

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Activity

Visual Fraction Tiles: Whole, Halves, & Fourths

Instructions for the Teacher:

  1. Print this page on cardstock for durability.
  2. Cut out each shape carefully along the lines.
  3. For each student, provide one whole circle, two half circles, and four fourth-circles. Consider laminating for repeated use.
  4. These tiles are used for hands-on exploration during the lesson, as described in the Fraction Fun: Whole, Halves & Fourths! Lesson Plan.

Whole Circle

(Image: A large, solid circle. Label it: "1 Whole")

Half Circles

(Image: Two half circles. Label each: "1/2")

Fourth Circles

(Image: Four fourth-circles. Label each: "1/4")

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Worksheet

Fraction Matching: Halves & Fourths

Name: ________________________

Instructions: Look at the fractions. Draw a line from the fraction on the left to the fraction that is the SAME amount on the right. Then, color them!

Match the Same Amounts!

Group 1

A.


(Image: A circle divided in half with one half shaded. Label: "1/2")





B.


(Image: A circle divided into two halves with both halves shaded. Label: "2/2")

Group 2

1.


(Image: A circle divided into four fourths with two fourths shaded. Label: "2/4")





2.


(Image: A circle divided into four fourths with all four fourths shaded. Label: "4/4")

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Answer Key

Fraction Matching: Answer Key

Instructions: This key provides the correct matches for the Fraction Matching Worksheet.

Correct Matches:

Group 1 & 2 Connections

A. 1/2 (one half shaded) matches to 1. 2/4 (two fourths shaded)

  • Reasoning: When you place two 1/4 pieces on top of a 1/2 piece, they cover the exact same area. They are equal amounts.

B. 2/2 (two halves shaded = one whole) matches to 2. 4/4 (four fourths shaded = one whole)

  • Reasoning: Both 2/2 and 4/4 represent the entire circle, or one whole. They are equal amounts.
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Fraction Fun: Whole, Halves & Fourths! • Lenny Learning