Equal or unequal parts

I can describe how a whole can be divided into parts and recognise equal and unequal parts.

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Year 2

Equal or unequal parts

I can describe how a whole can be divided into parts and recognise equal and unequal parts.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

Wholes can be divided into parts. The whole could be an object, a shape or a set of objects.
When all the parts are the same size, they are equal parts.
When all the parts are not the same size, they are unequal parts.
Equal parts of the same shape may look different.

Common misconception

Children may think that when a shape has been split straight through the middle that the parts are equal.

Encourage children to compare the sizes of each part by lining them up next to each other. With paper shapes, children can cut out the parts and lay them on top of each other to see if the parts are equal or unequal in size.

Keywords

Whole - All the parts / all of a group or number.
Part - A piece or section of the whole.
Equal - We say that two or more things are equal if they have the same quantity or value.
Unequal - We say that two or more things are unequal if they do not have the same quantity or value.

Children will always benefit from the opportunity to experience parts and wholes practically by exploring some of the contexts in this lesson, such as pencils, building blocks and jigsaws, in their environment rather than on screen.

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).