Fractions - Black and white paper - Practical Maths Activity

This practical Maths activity is designed to help Year 2 students grasp the concept of fractions in a visual and hands-on way. Working in pairs, each child is provided with a sheet of paper, one black and the other white. They are tasked with cutting out identical shapes from their respective sheets. Once the shapes are cut out, the children are instructed to carefully fold and then cut these shapes in half. This action demonstrates how a whole can be divided into two equal parts, creating a fraction.

Following the cutting exercise, each student swaps one half of their shape with their partner, combining a black and white piece to form a whole shape again but now with contrasting colours. This contrast is not just visually engaging but also reinforces the concept of how two halves make a whole and the idea of equivalent fractions. By repeating this process with different shapes, students can explore other fractions such as thirds and quarters. The activity not only helps students recognise and name fractions but also enables them to understand fractions as parts of a whole shape, aligning with the National Curriculum objectives for Year 2.