Primary Standards:
MAFS.1.G.1.3 Partition circles and rectangles into two and four equal shares, describe the shares using the words halves, fourths, and quarters, and use the phrases half of, fourth of, and quarter of. Describe the whole as two of, or four of the shares. Understand for these examples that decomposing into more equal shares creates smaller shares.
Connecting Standards:
MAFS.1.G.1.2 Compose two-dimensional shapes (rectangles, squares, trapezoids, triangles, half-circles, and quarter-circles) or three-dimensional shapes (cubes, right rectangular prisms, right circular cones, and right circular cylinders) to create a composite shape.
Content Knowledge:
This Unit introduces informal fractional understanding and sets the stage for students’ later formal work with fractions in third grade. In 1st grade, students do not need to know or be exposed to the concepts of numerator or denominator, nor should they see fractions in fractional notation (). It is important to expose students to partitioning language such as wholes, halves, fourths, quarters, half of, fourth of, and quarter of. Word Walls or Anchor Charts could be utilized as visual reminders of the words/concepts. These visual reminders should be built with students, adding examples as students explore each idea.
Students in this Unit are exploring some of the bigger ideas about fractions, such as; halves are larger portions than fourths if they relate to the same whole, as shapes are partitioned into more pieces (halves and fourths) the shares become smaller, and that although halves or fourths are equal shares they don’t have to be the same shape.
GCG 1 – Learning Goal: As a Mathematician, I will be able to Partition Shapes into Halves and Fourths
- Step 1: Break apart rectangles, squares and circles into 2 or 4 equal parts
- Step 2: Understand “Halves” as breaking a whole shape into 2 equal parts (rectangles, squares, circles)
- Step 3: Understand “Fourths” as breaking a whole shape into 4 equal parts (rectangles, squares, circles)
GCG 2 – Learning Goal: As a Mathematician, I will be able to Compare Halves and Fourths