Whole Up, Let's Break Up, With Circles and Rectangles!

Learning Resource Type

Learning Activity

Subject Area

Mathematics

Grade(s)

Overview

In this activity, the teacher will begin with the video, Partition Shapes Into Equal Shares. The teacher will review the definition of partition, whole, equal shares, halves, thirds, and fourths. The teacher will use paper plates, construction paper, and card stock to demonstrate partitioning the whole into equal shares of halves, thirds, and fourths.

This resource was created in partnership with Dothan City Schools.

Phase

During/Explore/Explain

Mathematics (2019) Grade(s): 2

MA19.2.27
Partition circles and rectangles into two, three, or four equal shares. Describe the shares using such terms as halves, thirds, half of, or a third of, and describe the whole as two halves, three thirds, or four fourths.

Vocabulary

Partition

Knowledge

Students know:

strategies for partitioning shapes into two, three, or four equal shares and reason about these shares.

Skills

Students are able to:

decompose circles and rectangles into halves, thirds, and fourths.
communicate the size of pieces using the appropriate fraction terminology.
recognize that equal shares may be different shapes within the same whole.

Understanding

Students understand that:

shapes can be equally partitioned into halves, thirds, and fourths.

Learning Objectives

The students will partition circles and rectangles into two, three, and four equal shares and apply the terms halves, thirds, and fourths to describe the whole.

Activity Details

1. The teacher will show the students the video, Partition Shapes Into Equal Shares.

2. The teacher will review the math terms (use the previous activity's anchor charts) partition, whole, equal shares, halves, thirds, and fourths.

3. The teacher will give each student three rectangle cut-outs of different sizes and colors.

4. The teacher will explain to students to partition each rectangle into an equal share of halves, thirds, and fourths. Students will match the halves, thirds, and fourths up based on their color. To help the students partition to the size as accurately as possible, the teacher will show students how to fold the rectangles into halves, thirds, and fourths before cutting the whole.

5. The teacher will give students three paper plates (or use circle cut-outs) of different sizes.

6. The teacher will explain to students to partition each circle into an equal share of halves, thirds, and fourths. Students will match the pieces together based on the size of the circles. To help students partition the paper plates (or circle cut-outs) to the size as accurately as possible, the teacher will model how to fold plates in a half, third, and fourth before cutting the whole.

7. Teacher will have students share what they did orally with the class.

8. The teacher will give each student a gallon zip-lock bag to place all their pieces in. The teacher will encourage students to take this activity home and share what they learned about partitioning a whole circle and rectangle into equal shares of halves, thirds, and fourths.

Assessment Strategies

The teacher will take anecdotal notes as students give feedback to others during small group purposeful talk.

The teacher will listen to students using the math terms as they partition circles and rectangles into equal shares of halves, thirds, and fourths.

The teacher will monitor students as they demonstrate cutting out halves, thirds, and fourths during the activity.

Variation Tips

Extension: For students needing more challenge, use this activity to demonstrate their understanding of halves, thirds, and fourths for circles and rectangles according to the directions.

Intervention: For struggling students needing more work with this skill, the teacher will place circle and rectangular cut-outs in halves, thirds, and fourths on the tabletop. The teacher will have students put circles and rectangles all mixed up together to identify the halves, thirds, and fourths. The teacher should make sure students use these math terms in their conversations during this activity.

Background / Preparation

1. The teacher will need to preview the Partition Shapes Into Equal Squares video.

2. The teacher will need the previous anchor charts defining the math terms: partition, whole, equal shares, halves, thirds, and fourths.

3. The teacher will need paper plates of different sizes of circles (or you may cut out your circles). A pack of plain white paper plates will work well for this activity.

4. The teacher will use construction paper or card stock to cut different sizes of rectangles. Students will need at least three circles and three rectangles of different sizes.

5. The teacher will need gallon-size zip-lock bags for each student to place their cutouts from this activity.

6. The teacher will need pencils for each student.

7. For the extension activity, the teacher will need to print the Google Doc.

Partition Shapes Into Equal Shares

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mn96drlCqyc

Approved Date

2022-12-13

Owner (Author)

robincoachman