New

Use fraction notation to describe an equal part of the whole

I can use fraction notation to describe an equal part of the whole.

Download all

View unit

Lesson 8 of 10

New

Year 3

Use fraction notation to describe an equal part of the whole

I can use fraction notation to describe an equal part of the whole.

Download all

Lesson slides

Download lesson slides

Skip lesson slides

Lesson details

Key learning points

The whole has been divided (division bar).
The whole has been divided into __ equal parts (denominator).
One of the parts has been shaded (numerator).

Keywords

Fraction - A fraction shows us how many equal parts in a whole.
Division bar - The division bar is the horizontal line separating the two values in a fraction.
Denominator - A denominator is the bottom number in a fraction. It shows how many parts a whole has been divided into.
Numerator - A numerator is the top number in a fraction. It shows how many parts we have.

Common misconception

Children will often think that the denominator is just how many parts a whole has been divided into and forget that the parts must be equal.

If some children are struggling with this then get them to spot examples and non-examples drawn quickly on whiteboards. You can also make connections with sharing food with siblings/friends fairly. Some might endure 'one cuts, one chooses' at home.

Get into the habit of writing fraction notation in the order suggested on the slides: division bar, denominator, numerator. This will help children to conceptualise the notation more easily and strengthens their understanding of a fraction being a special relationship between part and whole.

Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).