Fractions - Find a third - Planning

In the Year 2 Spring term, a mathematics lesson on fractions is designed to help children grasp the concept of finding a third. The lesson's aim is for pupils to understand how to divide a whole into three equal parts, known as thirds. They will use their prior knowledge of division and equal sharing to find one third of various quantities. The lesson begins with a starter activity where children recap what they have previously learned about fractions. They are encouraged to use concrete objects like cubes or counters, along with pictorial representations, to visualise and calculate one third of a given amount.

During the class, children engage in a series of activities that guide them through the process of finding a third. Activity 1 involves counting out nine cubes and dividing them into three equal groups to find that one third of nine is three. In Activity 2, the children read a word problem and determine the steps needed to solve it, such as finding a third of a number and then subtracting it to find the remainder. Activity 3 allows children to use counters and bar models to work out one third of different amounts, reinforcing the concept through practical application. The lesson concludes with a plenary where children reflect on what they have learned, the skills they used, and any challenges they faced. Differentiated worksheets cater to varying levels of ability, from working towards understanding simple amounts to achieving greater depth with more complex two-step problems.