Fractions - Non-unit fractions - Starter

In a Year 3 mathematics session, students engage with the concept of non-unit fractions through a variety of exercises. The lesson starts with a 'Fluent in Four' revision section, where students warm up their maths skills with quick-fire calculations. They tackle problems such as dividing 32 by 8 and determining the result of adding four to sixty, then dividing by half of sixteen. This introductory activity sets the stage for the main focus of the lesson, which is understanding and identifying fractions of objects.

The class is presented with tasks that require them to identify the fraction of a circled area on different objects. For example, they might be asked to determine what fraction of a clock's face is highlighted when the time is 10 minutes past 8. Furthermore, practical application of division is explored through real-life scenarios such as calculating how many bags of lemons can be made when 40 lemons are divided into bags of 10. Students are encouraged to visually represent their answers using a bar model to aid comprehension. The lesson also includes a comparative activity where students measure strips of paper and identify which strip is the longest, the shortest, and how they compare in length, thereby reinforcing measurement and comparison skills alongside their understanding of fractions.