Materials
none
Instructions
1. Introduce the concept of fractions in a fun, easy-to-understand way. Ask six children to come up to the front of the class. Have them line up in a row.
2. Ask the rest of the class to count the six children.
3. Explain that you want to separate the six children into two equal groups (A and B), stressing the word equal and explaining that equal means the same number in each group.
4. Divide the children into two unequal groups (two children in group A and four in group B, for example). Count the children and ask the children if there are an equal number of children in each group.
5. Ask them to tell you who needs to move to a new group.
6. When the groups are equal, tell them that there are three children in group A and three in group B. Explain that by making two equal groups, they have divided the group in half with the same number (three) on each side.
7. Have the class repeat after you, "Half of six is three."8. Have the six children move back together and invite a new child to come up to the front line. Ask her to divide the group into two equal groups. Repeat the phrase, "Half of six is three."9. As children begin to grasp the concept, use other fractions.
