Fractions - Strips of paper - Practical Maths Activity

A hands-on activity involving strips of paper provides a practical approach to understanding fractions, suitable for Year 2 students as per the National Curriculum objectives. The children are given a strip of paper each and instructed to fold it from one end to the other. Upon unfolding the paper, they are asked to count the number of pieces created by the fold and to identify the fraction that each piece represents. This concrete experience helps them to visualise and understand the concept of fractions in a tangible way.

The activity is repeated with the children folding their strips of paper in different ways to create a variety of fractions. This simple yet effective exercise can be completed in a short time frame, making it an ideal starter activity for a 5-10 minute maths lesson. The only equipment needed for this task is strips of paper. The learning outcome aligns with the National Curriculum objectives for Year 2, which include recognising, finding, naming, and writing fractions such as 1/3, 1/4, 2/4, and 3/4 of a length, shape, set of objects or quantity.