This lesson plan helps students to see and experience the difference between equal and unequal parts. This is a hands on activity using materials the students made themselves.
Fun Fraction Lesson Plans: Numbered Equal Parts
In the last fraction math lesson plan, we created circles divided evenly into equal parts. We will be using those circles to move on to the next math lesson plan. You should have 6 circles of the same size with the corresponding number of equal parts as listed below.
- Pink: One solid circle
- Purple: Divided in half.
- Yellow: Divided into 3 equal parts.
- Orange: Divided into 4 equal parts.
- Blue: Divided into 6 equal parts.
- Green: Divided into 8 equal parts.
Ask the students to take out their circles. Discuss with the students how many equal parts are in each color circle. Work with the students through the steps listed below.
- Ask students to place two of the yellow pieces in front of them.
- Ask students to use two of the blue pieces to complete the circle.
- These two colors make a circle, but are they a circle with equal parts? Why not? Discuss with students.
- Ask students to replace the blue pieces with the appropriate piece to make a circle of equal parts. (They should figure out to replace the blue pieces with a yellow one.)
- Ask students to take out one purple piece.
- Ask students to use two orange pieces to complete the circle.
- These pieces make a circle but is it a circle with equal parts? Why not? Discuss with students.
- Ask students to replace the orange pieces with the appropriate piece to make a circle of equal parts. (They should figure out to replace the orange pieces with a purple one.)
Continue this process with varying colors and pieces. Discuss each one with the students until all students understand how to make a circle with equal parts. As you do each one and complete the circle in equal parts, have the students count the equal parts. Do this with the students until they seem to feel comfortable identifying and counting equal parts.
