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Slice It Up

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REMYA SESHADRI

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Slice of Pie Lesson Plan

Students will understand fractions as parts of a whole by identifying and naming simple fractions using real-world examples like pizza and pie.

Introducing fractions with tangible, familiar objects helps 3rd graders build a solid foundation for future math concepts and problem solving.

Audience

3rd Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Hands-on exploration with concrete models

Materials

  • Slice of Pie Lesson Plan, - Pizza Fraction Manipulatives, - Printable Fraction Pie Models, - Whiteboard and Markers, and - Student Fraction Journals

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

  • Gather pizza fraction manipulatives and arrange for easy student access
  • Print copies of Printable Fraction Pie Models (enough for pairs)
  • Review the Slice of Pie Lesson Plan to familiarize yourself with activity flow
  • Set up whiteboard and markers for modeling

Step 1

Activate Prior Knowledge

5 minutes

  • Ask students if they have ever shared a pizza or cake and how they divided it
  • Draw a large circle on the whiteboard and demonstrate dividing it into 2 equal parts, labeling each half as 1/2
  • Invite a volunteer to divide another circle into 4 equal parts and label each quarter as 1/4

Step 2

Pizza Fraction Activity

10 minutes

  • Distribute pizza fraction manipulatives to student pairs
  • Instruct pairs to create halves, thirds, and quarters from their pizza models
  • Have students name each fraction they create (e.g., 1/2, 1/3, 1/4)
  • Circulate to check understanding and correct misconceptions

Step 3

Pie Model Demonstration

7 minutes

  • Project or distribute Printable Fraction Pie Models
  • Model how to shade 1/3 and 1/4 on the pie diagrams, labeling each section
  • Ask students to come up and shade given fractions on the board model

Step 4

Guided Practice & Reflection

8 minutes

  • Have students open their fraction journals and draw one pie divided into halves and another into quarters
  • Ask them to write the fraction labels for shaded parts
  • Invite volunteers to share their drawings and explain their thinking
  • Summarize key ideas: fractions represent equal parts of a whole
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Slide Deck

Slice It Up: Introduction to Fractions

Grade: 3rd Grade
Duration: 30 minutes
Objective: Identify and represent simple fractions (1/2, 1/3, 1/4) as equal parts of a whole.
Let’s get ready to slice some pizza and pie!

Welcome students! Today we’re going to explore what fractions are by using things we all love—pizza and pie. Write the objective on the board and point out that by the end of the lesson, they’ll be able to name and represent halves, thirds, and quarters.

Activate Prior Knowledge

• Has anyone ever shared a pizza or cake? How did you divide it?

• Draw a circle and divide into 2 halves; label each 1/2.
• Draw another circle and divide into 4 quarters; label each 1/4.

[Image: Whole pizza on plate]

Ask students to share their experiences with dividing pizza or cake. Draw circles on the whiteboard and model dividing into halves (1/2) and quarters (1/4). Invite volunteers to try dividing a new circle.

Pizza Fraction Activity

• Pair up and get your Pizza Fraction Manipulatives.
• Build and name:
– Halves (1/2)
– Thirds (1/3)
– Quarters (1/4)
• Share each fraction with the class using correct terms.

Distribute pizza fraction manipulatives in pairs. Circulate, prompting students to use precise fraction language: 'one-half', 'one-third', 'one-quarter'. Have pairs show their fraction to the class.

Pie Model Demonstration

• Project Printable Fraction Pie Models.
• I will shade and label:
– 1/3 of the pie
– 1/4 of the pie
• Now volunteers, please shade and label a fraction on our board pie!

Project the printable pie models so all can see. Model shading and labeling for 1/3 and 1/4. Then invite volunteers to come up and shade fractions like 1/2 or 3/4 on the board.

Guided Practice & Reflection

In your Fraction Journals:

  1. Draw one pie divided into halves; shade and label 1/2.
  2. Draw one pie divided into quarters; shade and label 1/4.

Volunteers share their drawings and explain their thinking.

Circulate to support students as they draw and label their pies. Encourage clear fraction notation. Use volunteer sharing to reinforce correct understanding.

Why Fractions Matter

Fractions help us:
• Share snacks equally
• Measure ingredients in recipes
• Tell time (half past, quarter to)

What is another way you use fractions in your life?

Summarize how fractions help us in everyday life. Encourage students to think of other real-world fraction uses and share them.

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Lesson Plan

Slice It Up Lesson Plan

Students will identify and represent simple fractions (1/2, 1/3, 1/4) as equal parts of a whole using hands-on models and visual diagrams.

Understanding fractions builds foundational number sense and helps students make sense of everyday situations—like sharing pizza or dividing objects—by naming and representing equal parts of a whole.

Audience

3rd Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Hands-on exploration with manipulatives and visual modeling

Materials

  • Pizza Fraction Manipulatives, - Printable Fraction Pie Models, - Whiteboard and Markers, - Student Fraction Journals, and - Slice of Pie Slides

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

  • Gather pizza fraction manipulatives and arrange for pairs
  • Print copies of Printable Fraction Pie Models
  • Load Slice of Pie Slides on the projector
  • Prepare whiteboard and markers and review fraction vocabulary: half, third, quarter

Step 1

Activate Prior Knowledge

5 minutes

  • Ask: “Have you ever shared a pizza or cake? How did you divide it?”
  • Draw a large circle on the whiteboard; divide into 2 equal parts and label each “1/2”
  • Invite a volunteer to draw another circle, divide into 4 equal parts, and label each “1/4”
  • Differentiation:
    • Support: Provide circle templates for tracing
    • Challenge: Ask advanced students to divide into 3 equal parts and label “1/3”

Step 2

Pizza Fraction Activity

10 minutes

  • Distribute pizza fraction manipulatives to student pairs
  • Instruct pairs to build and name :
    • Halves (1/2)
    • Thirds (1/3)
    • Quarters (1/4)
  • Have students state each fraction aloud
  • Circulate to reinforce precise fraction language
  • Differentiation:
    • Support: Prompt pairs with “Show me one-quarter”
    • Challenge: Ask pairs to combine two fractions that make a whole (e.g., 1/4 + 3/4)

Step 3

Pie Model Demonstration

7 minutes

  • Project Printable Fraction Pie Models
  • Model shading and labeling:
    • Shade 1/3 of a pie and label “1/3”
    • Shade 1/4 of a pie and label “1/4”
  • Invite volunteers to shade given fractions on the board model
  • Differentiation:
    • Support: Trace pie sections before shading
    • Challenge: Shade 2/4 and discuss how it simplifies to 1/2

Step 4

Guided Practice & Reflection

8 minutes

  • In Student Fraction Journals, have students:
    • Draw one pie divided into halves; shade and label “1/2”
    • Draw one pie divided into quarters; shade and label “1/4”
  • Invite volunteers to share drawings and explain their thinking
  • Summarize key idea: “Fractions represent equal parts of a whole.”
  • Differentiation:
    • Support: Provide journal templates with pre-drawn pies
    • Challenge: Draw and label a pie divided into thirds (1/3)
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Worksheet

Fraction Pie Models

Instructions: Use your pencil to draw, shade, and label each pie model as described.
Refer to Slice It Up Slides and your Fraction Journal for guidance.

Part A: Draw & Shade

  1. Draw a circle divided into 2 equal parts.
    Shade one part to show (\frac{1}{2}). Label the shaded region “1/2.”





  2. Draw a circle divided into 3 equal parts.
    Shade one part to show (\frac{1}{3}). Label the shaded region “1/3.”





  3. Draw a circle divided into 4 equal parts.
    Shade one part to show (\frac{1}{4}). Label the shaded region “1/4.”





Part B: Shade Given Fractions

Below are blank circles. Shade and label each as directed.

a. Shade (\frac{2}{3}) of the circle.





b. Shade (\frac{3}{4}) of the circle.





c. Shade (\frac{1}{4}) of the circle.





Extension Challenge

Draw a new pie, divide it into 4 equal parts, then shade 2 sections to show (\frac{2}{4}). Label and discuss how (\frac{2}{4}) simplifies to (\frac{1}{2}).










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Cool Down

Fraction Exit Ticket

Name: ________________________ Date: ________________

  1. Draw and shade 1/2 of the circle below. Label the shaded part “1/2.”
    ○










  2. Draw and shade 1/3 of the circle below. Label the shaded part “1/3.”
    ○










  3. What fraction of a whole is shaded if 3 out of 4 parts are shaded?
    Answer: ________________________________


  4. Write the fraction one-quarter in words.
    Answer: ___________________________________________


Thank you! Please turn in your exit ticket before you leave.

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