Here’s the math skill you’ll use for the rest of your life: splitting something into equal parts. That’s what a fraction is — and nothing teaches it faster than sharing a treat bag.
When we share equally, everybody gets the same amount. Look at 6 candies shared between 2 friends!
6 candies shared between 2 friends!
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Count with me — how many candies did each friend get?
Is that fair? How do you know?
What if a third friend came along? Would 6 still share evenly?
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Each friend gets 3 candies — 3 and 3 makes 6, so it’s fair! And yes, 3 friends works too: each would get 2 candies.
Try it
Fair share! Hold up 4 fingers. Now split them into 2 equal groups — how many in each group? Try it again with 8 fingers (use both hands)!
A fraction shows equal parts of a whole. The bottom number (denominator) tells how many equal pieces the whole was split into. The top number (numerator) tells how many you have.
Same bar, three different ways to cut it.
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Look at the bars: how many fourths equal one half? How can you tell just by looking?
Tricky one: which is bigger, 1/4 or 1/8? Why does a BIGGER bottom number mean a SMALLER piece?
You have 24 pieces of candy to split evenly among 6 friends. How many each? What fraction of the total does each friend get?
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2/4 = 1/2 — two fourths cover the same space as one half. 1/4 is bigger than 1/8: the bigger the bottom number, the more pieces you cut the whole into, so each piece is smaller. And 24 ÷ 6 = 4 pieces each, which is 1/6 of the total.
Try it
Prove it with paper! Fold a strip in half, then in half again, then again. Open it up — you’ve made eighths. Now shade 4/8 and check: does it land exactly where 1/2 would?
Additional Notes/Activities
If additional activities are needed for the Morning Meeting, they will be added here.