Exploring Quarters

Year Level

Year 2

Duration

60 minutes

Class Size

25 students

Unit Context

Lesson 3 of 6 - Unit: Fun with Fractions

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Understand that a whole can be divided into four equal parts called quarters (1/4).
• Identify and represent quarters in various contexts.
• Demonstrate how to partition shapes and objects into four equal parts.
• Use the concept of quarters in real-life examples.

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Australian Curriculum Alignment

Mathematics > Number and Algebra > Fractions and decimals

• AC9M2F01: Recognise and interpret common uses of halves, quarters, and eighths in familiar contexts.
• AC9M2F02: Represent and model halves, quarters, and eighths using concrete materials, diagrams, and digital technologies.
• AC9M2N01: Use concrete materials and diagrams to partition shapes and collections into equal parts.

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Key Vocabulary

• Whole
• Equal parts
• Quarters
• One quarter (1/4)
• Partition
• Fraction

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Resources

• A4 paper sheets (one per student)
• Scissors
• Coloured pencils or markers
• Apples or oranges (enough for one per pair of students)
• Plastic knives (for teacher/pupil supervised cutting)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Visual aids (fraction charts or posters showing quarters)
• Worksheets with simple fraction images (optional)

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Lesson Sequence

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

Objective: Activate prior knowledge and introduce the concept of quarters.

• Begin by revisiting halves from previous lessons to establish familiarity.
• Write the word "quarters" on the whiteboard.
• Show a whole shape (circle) on the board and ask: "If we share this circle into four equal parts, what might each part be called?"
• Use a visual fraction chart to show halves and then quarters.
• Explain that quarters mean the whole is divided into four equal pieces.
• Engage students by asking for examples where they have seen things cut into four parts (e.g., pizzas, sandwiches).

Teacher Talk:
"Today, we'll learn how to share things equally into four parts, called quarters. This is an important step in understanding fractions!"

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2. Hands-On Paper Folding Activity (15 minutes)

Objective: Develop conceptual understanding through physical partitioning.

• Distribute an A4 sheet of paper to each student.
• Demonstrate folding the paper in half (two equal halves).
• Then fold again to make four equal parts (quarters).
• Ask students to unfold and observe the creases.
• Encourage students to colour each quarter a different colour using pencils or markers.
• Discuss the equal size of each quarter.

Guided Questions:

• How many parts do you see?
• Are all parts equal in size?
• What do we call each part?

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3. Fruit Cutting Activity (20 minutes)

Objective: Reinforce quarter concept with real-world examples.

• Divide students into pairs.
• Give each pair one apple or orange and a plastic knife (teacher supervises).
• Together they will cut the fruit into four equal parts (quarters).
• Ask students to observe the quarters and compare them with their paper folds from earlier.
• Have pairs draw and colour the fruit quarters on their worksheet or paper.
• Discuss how each quarter is a part of the whole fruit.

Safety Note:
Ensure teacher supervision at all times during cutting.

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4. Class Discussion and Consolidation (10 minutes)

Objective: Reflect on learning and solidify understanding.

• Gather students in a circle.
• Ask pairs to share their observations about quarters.
• Use the whiteboard to draw quartered shapes based on student input.
• Relate quarters to day-to-day examples (e.g., quarter of an hour, quarter pieces of chocolate).
• Reiterate the vocabulary: quarters, whole, equal parts.

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5. Assessment and Exit Task (5 minutes)

Objective: Assess understanding informally.

• Provide each student with a small worksheet or whiteboard where they partition a simple shape (square or rectangle) into four equal parts.
• Ask them to shade one quarter.
• If time permits, have quick individual oral questioning: "How many quarters make a whole?" or "Can you show me one quarter on your paper?"

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Differentiation

• Support: Provide pre-folded papers for students who struggle with folding.
• Extension: Challenge students to find objects around the classroom that can be divided into quarters.
• Provide visual aids with fraction language and pictorial representations for EAL/D students.

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Reflection for Teachers

• Did students correctly identify quarters as four equal parts?
• Was the hands-on activity engaging and effective for learning?
• How did students apply the quarter concept to real objects like fruit?
• Plan follow-up activities for students needing reinforcement.

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This lesson provides hands-on practical experience combining visual, tactile, and real-life contexts to build deep understanding of quarters, perfectly aligned with the Australian Curriculum v9 for Year 2 Mathematics.