Fractions - Equivalence one half and two quarters - Planning

In a Year 3 mathematics lesson focused on fractions, students delve into the concept of equivalence, particularly understanding how one half is equivalent to two quarters. The National Curriculum objectives for this session are to write simple fractions and to recognise the equivalence between 1/2 and 2/4. Key vocabulary such as 'equivalent', 'half', 'quarter', and 'whole' is introduced, with additional resources available online for visual aids and interactive learning. The lesson begins with a starter activity that recaps previous knowledge and leads into a series of practical tasks. Students use identical pieces of paper to visually and tangibly explore the concept of halves and quarters, and they manipulate counters to further understand these fractions in different contexts.

Throughout the lesson, reasoning is emphasised with activities designed to provoke discussion and deepen comprehension. Students are asked to consider scenarios such as sharing sweets and building towers with cubes to represent the fractions in question. They engage in conversations about whether half or two quarters yield a greater amount, leading to the conclusion that they are indeed the same. To conclude, the lesson incorporates a plenary session where students reflect on their learning, discussing what they found challenging and what strategies aided their understanding. Differentiated activities cater to varying levels of proficiency, with tasks ranging from shading shapes to demonstrate equivalence to explaining the relationship between halves and quarters in more complex scenarios. This structured approach ensures that students not only learn to recognise equivalent fractions but also understand the underlying principles that govern their equality.