1st Grade Halves and Fourths Lesson (Free PDF)
This halves fourths lesson for 1st Grade covers halves and fourths (Common Core 1.G.A.3), with a free PDF to print.
A half is one of 2 equal shares of a whole. A fourth, also called a quarter, is one of 4 equal shares. Equal shares must be exactly the same size. Two halves or four fourths make the whole. Cutting a whole into more shares makes each share smaller, so a fourth is smaller than a half.
Grade 1 · Common Core State Standards: 1.G.A.3
Key facts in this halves fourths lesson
- Equal shares are exactly the same size.
- A whole cut into 2 equal shares has 2 halves.
- A whole cut into 4 equal shares has 4 fourths, also called quarters.
- Fourth and quarter are two names for the same share.
- More equal shares means smaller shares, so a fourth is smaller than a half.
What does it mean to share equally?
A whole is a full shape, like a whole pizza or a whole sheet of paper. When a whole is cut into parts, the parts are called shares. Shares are equal when every share is exactly the same size.
What is a half?
Cut a whole into 2 equal shares. Each share is called a half. Two shares are called halves. You can say “half of the circle” to name one share. Two halves put together make the whole circle again.
Halves can be cut in many ways. A line down the middle, a line across the middle, or a line from corner to corner all make halves. The only rule is that both parts must be the same size.
What is a fourth?
Cut a whole into 4 equal shares. Each share is called a fourth. Another word for a fourth is a quarter. Four fourths make the whole.
Which is bigger, a half or a fourth?
When you cut the same whole into more equal shares, each share gets smaller. A whole cut into 4 shares has smaller shares than the same whole cut into 2 shares. So a fourth is smaller than a half.
How do you check halves and fourths?
- Count the shares. Two shares may be halves. Four shares may be fourths.
- Check that every share is the same size.
- If the shares are equal, name them: halves for 2 shares, fourths for 4 shares.
- If one share is bigger or smaller, say the shares are not equal.
Example: A rectangle is cut by a line that sits close to one end. The two parts are not the same size, so they are not halves. Move the line to the middle and both parts match.
Halves fourths lesson: questions and answers
What is a half in first grade math?
A half is one of 2 equal shares of a whole. If you cut a sandwich so both pieces are the same size, each piece is a half. Two halves make the whole sandwich.
What is a fourth?
A fourth is one of 4 equal shares of a whole. Four fourths make the whole. A fourth is smaller than a half because the whole was cut into more shares.
Is a quarter the same as a fourth?
Yes. Quarter and fourth are two names for 1 of 4 equal shares. Both words describe the same part of a circle or a rectangle.
Do halves have to look the same?
The two halves must be the same size. They can also be different cuts, such as a line down the middle or a line from corner to corner.
Why is a fourth smaller than a half?
Cutting the same whole into 4 shares makes each share smaller than cutting it into 2 shares. More shares means each share is smaller.
How to use this halves fourths lesson
Read the definitions first, then follow the worked method line by line and redo the example on paper without looking. When every step makes sense, move on to the worksheet, then check yourself with the quiz.
Download the halves fourths lesson as a PDF with the button below and keep it with your notes.
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