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Counting fractions

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Purpose:

To help your child to count fractions over one.

For example: 1/3, 2/3, 1, 4/3, 5/3, 2, 7/3

What you need:

  • Pen and paper
  • Oranges or Apples or choose something round and easy to cut up evenly.

What to do:

Cut an orange into quarters.

Ask your child how many quarters are in the orange.

Count the pieces one quarter, two quarters, three quarters, four quarters and ask your child to write down the fractions. 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/ 4

Cut another orange into quarters.

Ask your child to keep counting the quarters 5/4, 6/4, 7/4, 8/4 and to continue to write the list of fractions.

  • Ask them what is another name for 4 quarters? (1)
  • what is another name for 8 quarters? (2)
  • what is another name for 6 quarters ? (1 2/4 or 1 1/2)

Encourage them to use the oranges or drawings to find the answer.

Help your child to draw three circles on paper and mark them in thirds.

Count the thirds together: one third, two thirds, three thirds

Ask your child to count in thirds and to write the sequence.

Ask your child these questions:

  • what is another name for 3 thirds? (1)
  • what is another name for 6 thirds?(2)
  • what is another name for 5 thirds? (1 2/3)

What to expect your child to do:

  • To be able to read and write the fractions in a sequence.
  • Recognise the number of quarters in whole numbers, and the number of thirds in whole numbers.

Variations:

  • Children can also practice counting backwards in fractions. For example 4/3, 1, 2/ 3, 1/3
  • You could use flat or round pancakes, spikelets or roti to cut up in quarters or thirds.
  • This activity with fifths and tenths.Large, flat pancakes may be better for tenths.  

He Kupu Māori:

third hautoru
quarter hauwhā
fifth haurima
tenth hauono
equal parts wāhanga ōrite
count tatau (-ria)
symbol tohu

He Whakawhitinga Kōrero:

  • Tapahia te āporo kia whā nga wāhanga ōrite. (Cut the apple into four equal pieces.)
  • E hia ngā hauwhā? (How many quarters?)
  • Tatauria ngā hauwhā. (Count the quarters)
  • Kotahi hauwhā, e rua hauwhā, e toru hauwhā, e whā hauwhā. (One quarter, two quarters, three quarters, four quarters.)
  • Tuhia ngā tohu mō ngā hauwhā. (Write the symbol for the quarters.)
  • Tapahia tētahi anō āporo kia hauwhā. (Cut another apple into quarters.)
  • Tatauria tonuhia ngā hauwhā. (Continue counting the quarters.)
  • He aha tētahi atu ingoa mō te whā hauwhā? (Whats another name for four quarters?)
  • He aha tētahi atu ingoa mō te waru hauwhā? (Whats another name for eight quarters?)
  • He aha tētahi atu ingoa mō te ono hauwhā? (Whats another name for six quarters?)
  • Ko te kotahi me te haurua. (One and a half)
  • Tuhia kia rua ngā porowhita. (Draw two circles.)
  • Whakaaturia ngā hautoru ki ngā porowhita. (Show thirds on the circles.)
  • Wehea ngā porowhita kia toru ngā wāhanga ōrite. (Divide the circles in to three equal parts.)
  • E hia katoa ngā hautoru kei roto i ngā porowhita e rua? (How many thirds in the two circles?)

Download a file of this activity:

PDF (177KB)