Max Maths, Year 3, Learn together, Relating fractions to division

In a Year 3 mathematics lesson, students are learning how fractions relate to division through practical examples. Tya and Jade have a scenario where they want to share 8 cookies equally between themselves. By dividing the 8 cookies into 2 even groups, the students can see that half of the 8 cookies, which is written as 1/2 of 8, results in each person getting 4 cookies. This scenario is also used to illustrate that dividing by 2 (8 ÷ 2) is the same as finding half, further reinforcing the concept that 8 divided by 2 equals 4, which can also be expressed as a fraction: 8/2 = 4.

Another example is provided with Han, Samir, and Padma, who are sharing 18 marbles. They divide the marbles into 3 equal groups, demonstrating that a third of the 18 marbles, written as 1/3 of 18, gives each person 6 marbles. This real-life context helps students understand that dividing 18 marbles by 3 (18 ÷ 3) is equivalent to finding one-third of the marbles. Thus, the division of 18 by 3 also results in 6, which can be shown as a fraction: 18/3 = 6. These examples solidify the relationship between fractions and division, helping students grasp the concept that dividing a quantity equally among a number of people is the same as finding a fraction of that quantity.