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Year 3

Use fraction notation to describe an equal part of the whole

I can use fraction notation to describe an equal part of the whole.

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Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 3

Use fraction notation to describe an equal part of the whole

I can use fraction notation to describe an equal part of the whole.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The whole has been divided (division bar).
  2. The whole has been divided into __ equal parts (denominator).
  3. One of the parts has been shaded (numerator).

Common misconception

Children will often think that the denominator is just how many parts a whole has been divided into and forget that the parts must be equal.

If some children are struggling with this then get them to spot examples and non-examples drawn quickly on whiteboards. You can also make connections with sharing food with siblings/friends fairly. Some might endure 'one cuts, one chooses' at home.

Keywords

  • Fraction - A fraction shows us how many equal parts in a whole.

  • Division bar - The division bar is the horizontal line separating the two values in a fraction.

  • Denominator - A denominator is the bottom number in a fraction. It shows how many parts a whole has been divided into.

  • Numerator - A numerator is the top number in a fraction. It shows how many parts we have.

Get into the habit of writing fraction notation in the order suggested on the slides: division bar, denominator, numerator. This will help children to conceptualise the notation more easily and strengthens their understanding of a fraction being a special relationship between part and whole.
Teacher tip

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).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Complete the sentence. The whole has been divided into equal parts.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 3, three
Q2.
How many equal parts has this whole been divided into?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 4, four
Q3.
What time is being shown on this clock?
An image in a quiz
Half past 7
Correct answer: Half past 8
7 o’clock
8 o’clock
Q4.
What is the whole in this picture?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: A hexagon
A triangle
Six triangles
A line
Q5.
Tick the correct statements about this image.
An image in a quiz
There are 5 equal parts altogether.
There are 4 equal parts altogether.
Correct answer: There are 5 unequal parts altogether.
There are 4 unequal parts altogether.
Correct answer: The whole is a rectangle.
Q6.
How many equal parts has the whole been split into?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 6, six

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Complete the sentence: The whole has been divided into equal parts. 1 of the parts has been shaded.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 4, four
Q2.
Complete the sentence: The whole has been divided into equal parts. 1 of the parts has been shaded.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 8, eight
Q3.
What is the name of the indicated part of the fraction?
An image in a quiz
Division bar
Denominator
Correct answer: Numerator
Q4.
What is the name the digit 5 in this fraction?
An image in a quiz
Division bar
Correct answer: Denominator
Numerator
Q5.
What is the denominator of the fraction represented by this picture?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: 6, six
Q6.
Which of these pictures show $$ \frac{1}{4} $$?
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz