○ → ○○ (half colored)
Equal Parts: Parts that are exactly the same size and shape
Fraction: A number that represents part of a whole
Whole: The complete shape or object before dividing
- Draw: Create the whole shape (circle, rectangle, etc.)
- Divide: Split the shape into equal parts
- Count: Total number of equal parts
- Shade: Color the desired number of parts
- Write: Express as a fraction (shaded/total)
Start with one complete circle
Draw a line through the center to create 2 equal halves
Shade one of the two equal parts
1 part shaded out of 2 total parts = 1/2
One-half (1/2) of the circle is colored.
• Equal Division: All parts must be the same size
• Fraction Notation: Numerator over denominator
• Part-Whole Relationship: Fraction represents part of the whole
▭ → ▭▭▭▭ (3 parts colored)
Rectangle: A four-sided shape with four right angles
Partition: To divide into sections
Create one complete rectangle
Draw 3 lines to create 4 equal sections
Shade three of the four equal parts
3 parts shaded out of 4 total parts = 3/4
Three-fourths (3/4) of the rectangle is colored.
• Equal Sizing: All 4 parts must be the same size
• Fraction Components: Numerator (shaded) over denominator (total)
• Visual Verification: Check that parts look equal
✅ Circle divided in half | ❌ Uneven rectangle | ❌ Different sized triangles
Equal Parts: Sections that match in size and shape
Unequal Parts: Sections that differ in size or shape
Look at the parts created by the divisions
Check if all parts are the same size and shape
The circle has 2 parts that are the same size
The rectangle and triangle have parts of different sizes
The circle shows equal parts because both halves are the same size and shape. The rectangle and triangle have parts of different sizes.
• Size Comparison: All parts must be identical in size
• Shape Comparison: All parts must be identical in shape
• Visual Inspection: Use eyes to compare parts
Equal Parts: Divisions of a shape that are exactly the same size and shape
Fraction: A number representing part of a whole (e.g., 1/2, 3/4)
Numerator: The top number showing how many parts are selected
Denominator: The bottom number showing total number of equal parts
- Visual Inspection: Look to see if parts appear the same size
- Measurement: Compare areas or lengths if possible
- Overlap Test: Imagine placing one part on another to check equality
- Counting: Ensure all parts are accounted for
• Equality Requirement: All parts must be the same size and shape
• Fraction Reading: Read numerator first ("numerator over denominator")
• Visual Verification: Always check that parts look equal
• Part-Whole Relationship: Fraction represents part compared to whole
🍎 → 🍎🍎🍎🍎 (1 eaten, 3 remaining)
Real-World Application: Using math concepts in everyday situations
Remaining: What is left after some is taken away
Sarah cut the apple into 4 equal pieces
Sarah ate 1 piece out of 4
1 piece eaten out of 4 total pieces = 1/4
4 total - 1 eaten = 3 remaining
3 out of 4 pieces remaining = 3/4
Sarah ate 1/4 of the apple. 3/4 of the apple is left.
• Real-Life Context: Connect fractions to everyday situations
• Part-Whole Relationship: Fraction represents part compared to total
• Subtraction Concept: Remaining = Total - Taken
A: ▮▮▯ | B: ▮▮▮▯
Comparison: Determining which fraction is larger or smaller
Equivalent: Having the same value
Divided into 3 equal parts, 2 are shaded
Fraction: 2/3
Divided into 4 equal parts, 3 are shaded
Fraction: 3/4
To compare, imagine both shapes are the same size
2/3 vs 3/4 - 3/4 covers more area
3/4 appears to cover more of its shape than 2/3 does
Rectangle B (3/4) represents a larger fraction than Rectangle A (2/3).
• Visual Comparison: Use pictures to estimate fraction size
• Part-Whole Analysis: Compare shaded portions to total
• Fraction Reasoning: More shaded parts often mean larger fraction
Unit Fraction: A fraction with numerator 1 (like 1/2, 1/3, 1/4)
Proper Fraction: A fraction where numerator is less than denominator
Visual Model: A picture or diagram representing a fraction
- For Circles: Draw diameter lines through the center
- For Rectangles: Draw parallel lines dividing length or width equally
- For Squares: Similar to rectangles but all sides equal
- For Triangles: More complex, usually involves medians
• Size Equality: All parts must be exactly the same size
• Shape Equality: All parts must be exactly the same shape
• Fraction Formation: Shaded parts over total parts
• Verification: Always check that divisions create equal parts
Equal Parts & Fractions
Equal parts are sections of a shape that are:
• The same size
• The same shape
• Created by fair division
Fractions have two parts:
Numerator (top): shaded parts
Denominator (bottom): total parts
• Halves: 2 equal parts
• Thirds: 3 equal parts
• Fourths: 4 equal parts