How to Learn Fractions

Learning fractions can seem scary when you're looking at all those numbers. However, even preschoolers can learn fraction basics.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Items that can be divided. You can use whole items, like a single cookie, or a group of items, like a handful of small candy pieces.
• Stories about fractions, such as The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Hungry Bear

1. Begin by talking about a whole item. Hold up a cookie, a sandwich or a candy bar and discuss the fact that this whole item will feed one person.

2. Read The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry and the Hungry Bear. Talk about how cutting something into two equal pieces helped the person and the mouse each have a piece of the strawberry.

3. Cut the whole item into two equal pieces. Show the child that there is still an entire cookie, sandwich, etc. there, but it is also in two halves. Encourage the child to put the halves close together and far apart several times. Then, allow him or her to eat a half.

4. Review the concept of halves by cutting a paper plate in half and encouraging the child to play with it or by using a math manipulative kit like the Give Me Half learning resource bag by Stuart Murphy.

5. Repeat the process with each type of basic fraction up to eighths. Your child now has an excellent foundation for learning all about adding, subtracting and reducing fractions in elementary school.

[cadence]

on 12/3/2008 Great educational tips. I had trouble with fractions as a kid.

[TheGlamSquad]

on 12/3/2008 This is very great tips. Thanks so much for sharing! I will be sure to pass this on to my nephews, they could use this advice. Thanks! 5*****

[ElizabethLeigh]

on 12/3/2008 Very good idea! Thanks for the tips!