Sharing and Measuring
Class 4 · Mathematics
5 ideas in Class 4 Mathematics, explained in plain words, with games and quizzes to practise.
Halves and quarters
Part of: Parts and wholes
A half is one of two equal parts and a quarter is one of four equal parts. If you cut a chapati into two equal pieces, each piece is a half. The parts must be equal in size.
Why it matters. Halves and quarters are the first fractions children meet. Without the idea of equal parts, later work on fractions feels confusing.
Try it in two minutes
- Take a sheet of paper and ask your child to fold it so both parts match exactly. Name each part a half.
- Fold it in half again and open it. Ask how many equal parts there are now and what each is called.
- Cut a paper unevenly and ask whether the pieces are halves. Let your child explain why not.
Try at home. Ask your child to find three things at home that can be shared in halves or quarters.
Sharing equally into smaller parts
Part of: Parts and wholes
When one thing is shared equally among 2, 3, 4 or 5 people, each share is 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 or 1/5. The more people, the smaller each share. For example, one cake shared among 8 children gives thinner slices than the same cake shared among 4.
Why it matters. Children often think a bigger bottom number means a bigger fraction. Seeing it with real sharing builds the right idea.
Try it in two minutes
- Draw a big circle as a roti and shade the share of 2 people.
- Draw the same circle again and shade the share of 4 people.
- Ask which share is bigger and why, then try 8 people.
Try at home. At snack time, share one fruit equally among different numbers of family members and talk about the size of each piece.
Fractions with more than one part
Part of: Parts and wholes
A fraction like 3/8 means a whole cut into 8 equal parts, and 3 of those parts are taken. The bottom number tells the number of equal parts and the top number tells how many we take.
Why it matters. Reading and writing fractions is needed for measuring, sharing and later for decimals and percentages.
Try it in two minutes
- Draw a rectangle and divide it into 5 equal parts.
- Ask your child to colour 2 parts and say the fraction.
- Ask what fraction is not coloured and what happens if all 5 are coloured.
Try at home. Look at a chocolate bar with equal blocks and ask your child to describe the eaten and the remaining fractions.
Fractions of a group of things
Part of: Fractions in collections and equal fractions
To find 1/4 of 12 marbles, split them into 4 equal groups. Each group has 3 marbles, so 1/4 of 12 is 3. For 3/4 of 12, take 3 of these groups to get 9.
Why it matters. Many daily situations ask for part of a group, such as sharing sweets or counting how many children are absent.
Try it in two minutes
- Put 12 coins or beans on a table.
- Split them into 3 equal heaps and ask how many are in each heap.
- Ask for 1/3 of 12 and then 2/3 of 12.
Try at home. Ask your child to share 20 raisins so that each of 5 people gets 1/5 of them.
Equal fractions
Part of: Fractions in collections and equal fractions
Folding a paper in half and then folding again makes more, smaller parts. One half is the same amount as two quarters or four eighths. The fractions look different but cover the same part.
Why it matters. Knowing that fractions can be equal helps in comparing and adding them later.
Try it in two minutes
- Fold a paper in half and colour one half.
- Fold it again and ask how many quarters are coloured.
- Fold once more and ask how many eighths are coloured.
Try at home. Repeat with a strip of paper cut into thirds, then fold each third into two.
What your child will practise
- Equal fractions: Pizza Sort (Sort It Out)
- Fractions of a group of things: Space Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Fractions with more than one part: Ocean Puzzle (Clue Puzzle)
- Halves and quarters: Space Quest (Collect the Answer)
- Sharing equally into smaller parts: Candy Quick Fire (Quick Fire)
- Quiz: Equal fractions (8 questions)
- Quiz: Fractions of a group of things (8 questions)
- Quiz: Fractions with more than one part (8 questions)
- Quiz: Halves and quarters (8 questions)