Quarter Quest

Year Level

Year 2

Duration

60 minutes

Class Size

25 students

---

Unit Context

This lesson is Lesson 3 of 6 in the unit "Fun with Fractions," focusing on introducing and exploring quarters in practical, hands-on ways.

---

Australian Curriculum Links

Content Descriptor:

• AC9M2M05: Identify, describe and demonstrate quarter, half, three-quarter and full measures of turn in everyday situations

General Capability:

• Numeracy: Developing understanding of fractions and their everyday applications
• Critical and Creative Thinking: Using hands-on activities and group discussion to deepen understanding

---

Learning Objectives

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

1. Understand the concept of a quarter as one of four equal parts of a whole.
2. Represent quarters by folding paper and partitioning objects.
3. Identify quarters in real-life contexts, such as fruit and everyday activities.
4. Articulate ways quarters are used in daily life through group discussion.
5. Develop fine motor skills through folding and cutting activities.
6. Use the language related to quarters confidently (e.g., one-quarter, four equal parts).

---

Resources and Materials

• A4 paper sheets (one per student)
• Fruit such as apples, oranges, or pears (whole and cut) for visual demonstration
• Safety plastic knives or pre-cut fruit pieces if cutting in class
• Whiteboard and markers
• Fraction flashcards illustrating quarters
• Visual aids: pictures showing quarters in real-life contexts (e.g., pizza, clocks, chocolate bars)
• Worksheets with quarter shapes to colour and label
• Gloves and wipes (for hygiene with fruit)

---

Lesson Breakdown

1. Engage (10 minutes)

• Begin with a simple story or scenario (e.g., sharing a pizza into four equal pieces) to introduce quarters.
• Ask students if they've heard the word "quarter" before and where they have seen it. List their ideas on the board (e.g., a quarter past the hour on clocks, quarter pieces of fruit).
• Show real examples of quarters using a fruit (e.g., hold up an orange and then show it quartered).

Curriculum Link: Activating prior knowledge enhances understanding of fractions as part of everyday numeracy

---

2. Explore (20 minutes)

• Paper Folding Activity:

  • Give each student a sheet of paper.
  • Guide them step-by-step to fold the paper into quarters: Fold in half, then fold in half again, explaining that they now have 4 equal parts or quarters.
  • Have students unfold the paper and identify each quarter section.

• Fruit Quartering:

  • Show the fruit and demonstrate how to cut it into quarters (or show pre-cut fruit).
  • Discuss the equal size of each quarter and the idea of sharing equally.

• Ask students to work in pairs to explore their fruit quarters, discussing what they notice about the size and shape of quarters.

Curriculum Elaborations: Using physical materials and hands-on activities is a key strategy for students at this stage to understand fractions concretely

---

3. Explain (10 minutes)

• Facilitate a class discussion on the meaning of quarters. Ask:

  • What does "quarter" mean?
  • How do you know if something is divided into quarters?
  • Can you find quarters in the classroom or at home?

• Show fraction flashcards and reinforce the language: "one quarter," "four quarters," "one of four equal parts."

• Use visual aids to show quarters in other real-life objects (pizza, chocolate bar, clocks with quarter past times).

• Emphasise that quarters are always equal parts.

---

4. Elaborate (10 minutes)

• Distribute worksheets with quarter shapes and objects to colour or label.
• Encourage students to draw their own object and partition it into quarters.
• Prompt students to explain verbally or in writing how they divided their object into quarters.
• Invite volunteers to share their drawings and explanations.

---

5. Evaluate (10 minutes)

• Conduct a formative assessment by asking students to:

  • Identify and point out quarters in new real objects or images you show them.
  • Explain, in their own words, what a quarter is and how to find it.
  • Show a quarter by folding paper or selecting a quartered object.

• Use observation to assess if students understand the concept and the terminology.

• Provide immediate feedback and clarification as needed.

---

Differentiation and Support

• For students needing support, use larger visual aids and additional one-on-one guidance during folding.
• Challenge advanced students by introducing the concept of halves and three-quarters for comparison or by exploring fractions on number lines.
• Incorporate cultural stories or examples (for example, traditional food sharing) to make learning more meaningful.

---

Safety and Hygiene Notes

• Ensure fruit cutting is done by the teacher or with adult supervision.
• Use gloves and hygiene practices when handling fruit.

---

Reflection for Teachers

• Observe student engagement in hands-on activities; adjust group sizes if necessary for better interaction.
• Note vocabulary usage and understanding during discussions to plan targeted follow-up lessons.
• Consider integrating technology, such as interactive whiteboards or fraction apps, in later lessons for further reinforcement.

---

This lesson plan aligns with the Australian Curriculum Year 2 Mathematics content strand focusing on measurement and fractions. It explicitly addresses the content descriptor AC9M2M05 and uses hands-on, practical methods suitable for Year 2 students to understand quarters in everyday situations .