This half term in Maths, Year 2 have been learning all about fractions of numbers and shapes. We have used our previous learning about division and shape to help us develop our understanding.
We began by learning how to find one half. We explored the meaning of the numerator and denominator, understanding that the denominator tells us how many equal groups there are, while the numerator tells us how many parts of the whole we want to find.
For example, to find ½ of 16, we shared 16 equally into two groups and then counted how many were in one group. Once we were confident with finding fractions of numbers, we applied this knowledge to shapes, recognising that a shape split into halves must be divided into two equal parts.
We then extended our learning to finding ⅓ and ¼ of both numbers and shapes. We challenged ourselves further by exploring different ways to shade shapes to represent the same fraction, helping us to understand that fractions can be shown in a variety of ways.
It has been wonderful to see Year 2’s confidence grow as they independently work out fractions. We are particularly proud of how they have applied their understanding when solving both arithmetic and reasoning questions.
Three activities to try at home:
To continue practising our fraction skills, here are three activities you can try at home:
- Share Snacks Equally
Use small snacks such as grapes, crackers, or raisins. Practise finding ½, ⅓, and ¼ by sharing them equally between family members or into groups. - Spot Fractions Around the House
Look for examples of fractions in everyday life, such as cutting a sandwich into halves or quarters, slicing a pizza, or folding paper into equal parts. - Fraction Shape Challenge
Draw different shapes and see how many ways you can shade ½, ⅓, or ¼ of each shape. Challenge yourself to find more than one way to show the same fraction!