Exploring Fractions Creatively

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Overview

Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 28 Year 2 Pupils
Curriculum Link:
Curriculum for Wales – Mathematics and Numeracy Curriculum
Progression Step 2 – "I can recognise and make equal parts of a whole, including halves, quarters and thirds."
Learning Strand: "Developing Numerical Reasoning: Use a range of representations to reason and make connections in mathematics."

This lesson develops children’s conceptual understanding of a third using hands-on, practical, and creative learning. It includes a 20-minute recordable activity specifically designed for middle-ability learners, with no worksheets, allowing pupils to engage deeply both practically and reflectively.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

• Recognise and describe a third of a shape or a quantity.
• Physically divide items into thirds.
• Record their understanding through drawings and annotations.
• Use mathematical vocabulary: third, equal parts, divide, share.

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Resources

• A4 coloured paper
• String or wool
• Playdough
• Mini whiteboards and pens (for working out)
• Plastic knives or lollipop sticks
• Real or plastic food items (e.g. cakes, bananas, pizzas, apples)
• Maths books (for recording)
• Sticky labels
• Camera (for teacher to capture practical work for portfolios)

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Lesson Breakdown

🔍 Part 1: Mental Warm-Up & Introduction (10 minutes)

Activity: Fractions Flash!

• Use flashcards (manually made) showing halves, quarters, and thirds of shapes.
• Children shout out what fraction they see and explain their reasoning to a partner.
• Display three shapes: one halved, one quartered, one in thirds. Ask: “What’s the difference?”
• Explicitly define "a third": "Three equal parts of a whole.”
• Use hand gestures to represent thirds.

🎯 Assessment Opportunity: Watch who is confidently explaining thirds already.

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🧠 Part 2: Concept Exploration (10 minutes)

Activity: What is a Third?

• Sit children in a circle. Use real objects (banana, pizza base, sponge cake) and cut them into thirds with the class.
• Ask key questions:
  • “Have I made three equal parts?”
  • “How do you know?”
• Use string to measure thirds equally on objects to prove parts are equal.
• Reinforce language: “Each part is a third”, “One third of this cake is…”

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🎯 Part 3: Group Activities (20 minutes)

Targeted Group: Middle Ability

(Listed below are several options to choose from, all practical, recordable, and promote thinking.)

Choose One Wow-Activity:

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🧁 Option 1: Fraction Picnic (Recordable via Drawings & Labels)

Objective: Pupils share pretend picnic foods into thirds, then record how they did it.

Materials: Paper plates, pretend play food, small partitioning knives/lollipops.

• Children are given 3 paper food items (e.g. cakes made from playdough, drawn apples).
• They must divide them into three equal parts (by cutting, tearing or folding).
• Children stick a label on the items where it says “⅓”.
• Pupils then draw their items in their books, colour them neatly, and label each third.

📝 Recording:
In their books, they will:

• Draw what they did
• Label each part “⅓”
• Write 1-2 sentences using vocabulary like “I made three equal parts”, “One third of my cake is…”

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🍳 Option 2: Fraction Chef Challenge (Hands-on Food Cutting)

Objective: Use tactile learning and real-world context to engage children in recognising and creating thirds.

Materials: Real (or plastic) fruit/veg (e.g. bananas, peppers), string, safe plastic knives.

• Each child gets a food item to “prepare”.
• Their task is to become a “Fraction Chef” and cut it into exactly three equal parts.
• Use string to measure if needed.
• Once finished, they sketch their item into their books and explain how they made it a third.

📝 Recording:

• Sketch the item showing the cuts.
• Label each third.
• Sentence starters: “My banana was divided into 3 equal parts because…” or “⅓ means…”

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🎨 Option 3: Fraction Art Gallery (Creative & Mathematical)

Objective: Link geometry and visual art to create equal thirds in shape.

Materials: A4 paper (varied colours), rulers, pencils, glue.

• Children fold, cut, and decorate shapes (circles, rectangles) to show a third.
• They create a “gallery” piece showing three equal sections:
  • e.g. A pizza with 3 toppings: 1 topping per third.
• They glue their art into their books, label each section “⅓”.

📝 Recording:
Each child glues finished piece into book with captions:

• “I split my circle into thirds.”
• “Each part is one third of the whole.”

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Optional Extension for Middle Group:

• Teacher or TA gives small bag of 9 cubes.
• Challenge: “What is one third of these cubes?”
  Children group into 3 and show their answer using objects.
  Then draw cubes in books with a bracket around each group and labels.

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🧩 Part 4: Whole-Class Reflection (15 minutes)

Class Discussion:

• “How do we know a part is one third?”
• “What was tricky when dividing things into three equal parts?”
• Review key vocabulary (Third / Equal / Divide / Share / Whole).

Exit Challenge (Verbal or Book-Based):

• Choose an item from earlier (banana, pizza, circle).
• Ask: “What would happen if we only had 2 parts? Would they still be thirds?” Encourage reasons with visual evidence → powerful links to later fraction understanding!

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Differentiation Notes

• Higher Ability: Encourage abstract recognition – e.g. a third of 12 is __.
• Lower Ability: Work 1:1 with visual models and folding paper to see thirds practically.
• Middle Ability: Focus on accuracy, vocabulary, and explaining strategy (see activities above).

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observation of practical group work.
• Oral explanations during paired and group tasks.
• Maths book evidence showing understanding through labelled diagrams and explanations.
• Use of mathematical vocabulary in speech and writing.

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Cross-Curricular Links

• Expressive Arts: Designing a fraction-themed artwork.
• Health and Well-being: Discuss balanced eating while sharing food items.
• Languages, Literacy and Communication: Speaking and listening during group work and reflection.

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Teacher Reflection Prompts

• Which children grasped the idea of equal parts easily?
• Who used mathematical language confidently?
• Did learners understand that a third means one of three equal parts, not just three parts?

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Wow Factor Moments

• Applying real-life food cutting makes maths deeply memorable.
• Recording through drawing + explanation empowers pupils to articulate understanding.
• Fraction Art Gallery brings pride, ownership and beauty to mathematical representation.

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Let’s turn one third into one unforgettable lesson!