Math · Rung 7 of 7
Equal parts of a whole, and where they show up every day: sharing a pizza, measuring flour, paying at the store.
Where this sits
A fraction is equal parts of one whole. The bottom number says how many equal parts the whole is cut into; the top number says how many of those parts you have. From there come fractions that look different but are the same amount (1/2 and 2/4), comparing fractions, and tenths and hundredths written as decimals.
Money is where decimals become real: $3.25 is 3 dollars and 25 hundredths of a dollar. In Canada there have been no pennies since 2013, so a cash total is rounded to the nearest 5 cents, while a card payment is charged to the exact cent.
These come from the All four operations rung.
Each step builds on the one before. Most children spend weeks on some steps and days on others.
Halves, thirds and quarters of shapes and things. The parts have to be equal.
A sandwich cut into 4 equal pieces: each is 1/4
A fraction of a set of things.
1/3 of 12 cookies is 4 cookies
Equivalent fractions.
1/2 = 2/4 = 4/8
With the same bottom number, compare the tops. With the same top number, the bigger bottom means smaller pieces.
1/3 is more than 1/4
Decimals are fractions out of ten and out of a hundred.
0.5 = 5/10 = 1/2; 0.25 = 25/100 = 1/4
Dollars and cents, counting coins, making change, and rounding cash to the nearest 5 cents.
$3.25 is 3 dollars and 25 cents
Fractions in measuring cups, rulers and clocks.
1/2 cup + 1/4 cup = 3/4 cup
Choose how many equal parts, then tap parts to shade them. See the fraction, a simpler name for it, and the decimal where there is a neat one.
You need: A pizza, pancakes or a sandwich
Cut into halves, then quarters, then eighths. Line the pieces up to see which are the same amount.
“Is one piece out of 4 bigger or smaller than one piece out of 8?”
You need: Strips of paper the same length, a pencil
Fold one strip in half, one in quarters, one in eighths. Label each part and lay the strips one above the other to compare.
“How many eighths fit in one half?”
You need: Measuring cups, a simple recipe
Bake something that uses 1/2, 1/4 and 1/3 cups. Measure a cup using only the 1/4 cup and count the scoops.
“We need 3/4 of a cup and we only have the 1/4 cup. How many scoops?”
You need: A grocery flyer, paper
Your child has $20 to spend. They choose items, add the prices and work out the change.
“You have $20. If you buy these three things, how much change do you get?”
You need: A collection of 12 leaves (or stones, or shells)
Sort the collection by colour or type and say each group as a fraction of the whole collection.
“8 of our 12 leaves are yellow. What fraction is that?”
You need: String, clothes pegs, cards with fractions written on them
Hang the string with 0 at one end and 1 at the other. Each child pegs a fraction card where they think it goes, and explains why.
“Where does 2/3 go? Before or after 3/4?”
You need: Real or play coins (nickels, dimes, quarters, loonies, toonies), price tags
One child runs the cash register. For cash, the total is rounded to the nearest 5 cents before paying. Everyone takes a turn making change.
“It comes to $4.87. Paying cash, what do you actually pay?”
"The bigger half" isn't a half. Fold or cut, then check that the parts match.
Cut two same-size sandwiches, one into 4 and one into 8. More pieces means smaller pieces.
Use measuring cups: half a cup and a quarter cup can't make less than half a cup.
Put both in money: 50 cents and 25 cents.
Half of a small pizza is less than half of a big one. Always ask "half of what?"
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