Fractions - Find a quarter - Planning

In the Year 2 curriculum, the second week of Spring term is dedicated to teaching students about fractions, specifically how to find a quarter. The National Curriculum objectives for this period include recognizing, finding, naming, and writing fractions such as 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 2/4, and 3/4 of a length, shape, set of objects, or quantity. Students are also expected to write simple fractions, like 1/2 of 6 = 3, and understand the equivalence between fractions such as 2/4 and 1/2. The key vocabulary for this unit revolves around fundamental fraction concepts and terms like whole, part, half, fraction, numerator, denominator, and quarter. The lesson encourages students to distinguish between whole, part, equal and unequal, and to understand terms such as group, shape, number, quantity, more, and less.

The lesson begins with a 'Find a quarter' activity, where children compare halves to quarters and solve problems involving quarters of shapes and quantities. They engage in discussions, partner work, and practical activities using resources such as a teaching presentation, worksheets, counting objects, and mini whiteboards. The class works together to complete 'fluent in four' questions and reasoning activities, with differentiation to cater to various levels of understanding. Key questions prompt students to think critically about the concepts of whole, half, and quarter, and to explore the relationships between them. The lesson aims to address common misconceptions, such as confusing halves with quarters, and provides strategies for children working towards expected levels and those capable of greater depth analysis. The lesson concludes with reflection on what has been learned and the skills used, ensuring students remember how to find a quarter in different contexts.