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Fractions of a whole (age 8+)

CONCEPTUAL
MathematicsFractions|Ages 8—9|ID: mt_AYzE1EAvI0

Express whole numbers as fractions (e.g. 3 = 3/1) and recognise fractions equivalent to whole numbers (e.g. 4/4 = 1, 6/1 = 6)

Mastery Evidence

  • Write 5 as 5/1 and explain why
  • Locate 4/4 and 1 at the same point on a number line
  • Identify which fractions from a list equal a whole number: 6/3, 8/4, 5/2

Assessment Prompt

“If you ask [child] to write the number 3 as a fraction, can they write 3/1 — and also tell you what fraction equals exactly 1 whole, like 4/4 or 5/5?”

Prerequisites1

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  • Fractions of a whole hard

    Must understand a/b notation before expressing whole numbers as fractions

    • Fractions of amounts hard

      Recognising fractions of shapes/quantities is prerequisite to formal unit fraction understanding

      • Finding halves and quarters (age 5+) hard

        Working with 1/4, 2/4, 3/4 extends from Y1 understanding of quarters

        • What Is a Half? hard

          Understanding quarters extends from understanding halves — both are equal parts but quarters requires dividing into 4

          • Division as equal sharing hard

            Finding a half requires equal sharing into 2 groups — a division concept

            • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

              Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

              • How Many in Total? hard

                Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

                • One-to-one counting hard

                  Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

      • What Is a Half? hard

        Working with fractions extends from Y1 understanding of halves

        • Division as equal sharing hard

          Finding a half requires equal sharing into 2 groups — a division concept

          • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

            Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

            • How Many in Total? hard

              Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

              • One-to-one counting hard

                Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

      • Division as equal sharing soft

        Finding fractions of quantities uses equal sharing (division)

        • Subtraction as taking away or separating hard

          Division as equal sharing/grouping requires understanding subtraction as taking away/separating

          • How Many in Total? hard

            Understanding subtraction as taking away requires knowing numbers represent quantities (cardinality)

            • One-to-one counting hard

              Cardinality principle builds on one-to-one correspondence — you must count correctly to know the last number tells 'how many'

      • Fraction Notation hard

        Writing fractions like 1/3 and 3/4 requires knowing numerator and denominator

    • Fraction Notation hard

      Understanding a/b as a parts of 1/b requires numerator, denominator, and unit fraction vocabulary

    • Splitting shapes into equal parts (age 7+) hard

      Partition into equal shares is prerequisite to understanding unit fractions