Fractions - Recognise a half - Planning

In the Year 2 spring term, a lesson on fractions is designed to help students recognise and work with halves. The National Curriculum objectives covered include recognising equivalent fractions with small denominators, comparing and ordering fractions, and solving problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions with the same denominator. Key vocabulary such as 'fraction', 'numerator', 'denominator', and 'equivalent' are introduced, alongside concepts of whole, half, and various other fractions. Students are encouraged to use concrete resources and differentiated worksheets to aid their understanding, with vocabulary cards and definitions available to support their learning.

The lesson begins with a recap of previous knowledge, where children reflect on the concept of halving as splitting a whole into two equal parts, and are introduced to the fraction notation ½. Activities progress from recognising halves in pictorial representations to correcting unequal divisions and understanding the spelling of 'half' and 'halves'. Reasoning and problem-solving exercises challenge students to identify whether different representations show a half and why some may be misleading. The lesson aims to build a solid foundation in recognising and working with halves, and the 'Give me five' reflection activity at the end helps consolidate what they have learned, the skills used, and any challenges faced during the lesson. Differentiated activities cater to varying levels of understanding, ensuring all students can engage with the concept of halves in a meaningful way.