Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v5 - Grade 3

Lesson Video

This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.

For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.

Performance objectives

• Identify and show halves, thirds, and quarters.
• Divide whole objects into equal parts.
• Write fractions like 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4.
• Compare which fractions are bigger or smaller.

Lesson summary

Fractions are a fundamental part of mathematics and are essential for understanding how to divide things equally. In Grade 3, we begin our journey into the world of fractions, focusing specifically on halves, thirds, and quarters. These fractions are everywhere around us – sharing a koeksister with a friend, cutting a pizza into equal slices for your family, or understanding how much time has passed during a soccer game. Understanding fractions now will help you with more complex maths later on, like measurement, cooking, and even managing your pocket money! It is important for learners to develop a solid foundational understanding of fractions to be successful in future mathematics studies.

Lesson notes

What is a Fraction? A fraction represents a part of a whole. Think of it like sharing something equally. The whole is the entire object or amount we start with. The fraction shows how many equal parts the whole has been divided into and how many of those parts we are considering. Fractions are written as two numbers separated by a line. The number on the top (the numerator) tells us how many parts we have. The number on the bottom (the denominator) tells us how many equal parts the whole is divided into.

Halves (1/2): A half means dividing something into two equal parts. So, the whole is divided into 2 equal pieces. We write it as 1/

2. The denominator (2) tells us there are two parts in total, and the numerator (1) tells us we're looking at one of those parts.

Example: Imagine you have one whole apple. You want to share it equally with your friend. You cut the apple into two equal pieces. Each of you gets one piece. You each have 1/2 (one-half) of the apple.

Example: Draw a circle on a piece of paper. Fold the circle in half so that the edges meet perfectly. Unfold it. You've divided the circle into two equal parts. Each part is 1/2 of the whole circle.

Thirds (1/3): A third means dividing something into three equal parts. The whole is divided into 3 equal pieces. We write it as 1/

3. The denominator (3) tells us there are three parts in total, and the numerator (1) tells us we're looking at one of those parts.

Example: You have a loaf of bread (a Gatsby!). You want to share it equally with two friends (making three people total). You need to cut the loaf into three equal pieces. Each person gets 1/3 (one-third) of the loaf.

Example: Draw a rectangle. Try to divide it into three equal parts. (This can be tricky! Practice makes perfect.) Shade one of the parts. The shaded part represents 1/3 of the rectangle.

Quarters (1/4): A quarter means dividing something into four equal parts. The whole is divided into 4 equal pieces. We write it as 1/

4. The denominator (4) tells us there are four parts in total, and the numerator (1) tells us we're looking at one of those parts. It is also half of a half.

Example: You have a pizza. You want to share it equally with three friends (making four people total). You need to cut the pizza into four equal pieces. Each person gets 1/4 (one-quarter) of the pizza.

Example: Take a square piece of paper. Fold it in half, and then fold it in half again. When you unfold it, you'll see four equal squares. Each square is 1/4 of the whole square.

Comparing Fractions: It is important to compare fractions with the same whole.

Think about it like this: 1/2 of a large pizza is much more than 1/2 of a small cracker. 1/2 is bigger than 1/3 and 1/4. 1/3 is bigger than 1/

4. Example: Imagine you have a chocolate bar. You give 1/2 of the chocolate bar to your brother and 1/4 of the chocolate bar to your sister. Who gets more chocolate? Your brother, because 1/2 is bigger than 1/

4. Guided Practice (With Solutions)

Question 1: Draw a square. Divide it into four equal parts. Shade one part. What fraction of the square is shaded?

Solution: You should have divided your square into four equal pieces. Because one part is shaded, the fraction is 1/4 (one-quarter).

Commentary: This question helps reinforce the visual representation of a quarter. Make sure learners understand that all four parts need to be equal.

Question 2: You have a packet of 3 sweets. You want to give 1/3 of the sweets to your friend. How many sweets will you give your friend?

Solution: 1/3 of 3 sweets means dividing the sweets into three equal groups. That's 3 sweets / 3 groups = 1 sweet per group. So, you will give your friend 1 sweet.

Commentary: This question introduces the concept of finding a fraction of a number. It is important to explicitly say "1/3 of 3".

Question 3: Maria has a round roti. She cuts it in half. Then, she cuts each half in half again. How many pieces does she have? What fraction of the whole roti is each piece?

Solution: She first cuts the roti into 2 pieces (halves). Then she cuts each of those halves in half again, which gives her 2 x 2 = 4 pieces. Each piece is 1/4 (one-quarter) of the whole roti.

Commentary: This builds on previous knowledge by combining halves and quarters. Folding paper can help visualize this. Independent Practice (Questions Only) Draw a circle. Divide it into thirds. Shade two parts. What fraction of the circle is shaded? You have a sandwich. You cut it into quarters. You eat one piece. What fraction of the sandwich did you eat? What fraction of the sandwich is left? John has 6 marbles. He gives 1/2 of the marbles to his friend. How many marbles does he give away? How many marbles does he have left?

Which is bigger: 1/3 or 1/4 of the same chocolate bar? Explain your answer. Draw a rectangle. Divide it in half. Then, divide one of the halves in half again. What fractions do you see represented in your rectangle? Sarah has a collection of 12 toy cars. One quarter of the cars are red.