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New
Year 1

Explain what a whole is

I can explain what a whole is.

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New
New
Year 1

Explain what a whole is

I can explain what a whole is.

Link copied to clipboard

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A whole can be represented by one object.
  2. If some of the object is missing it is not a whole.
  3. Wholes can be different sizes.
  4. This is a whole ---- because I have all of it.
  5. This is not a whole --- because I do not have all of it.

Keywords

  • Whole - All of something. Complete.

  • All of it - All of something. Complete.

  • Not whole - Not all of something. Incomplete.

  • Part - A piece of a whole.

Common misconception

Children may think that the size of an object affects whether it is a whole or not.

Show whole objects in different sizes and orientations. Emphasise the language 'whole'.


To help you plan your year 1 maths lesson on: Explain what a whole is, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

This lesson starts to explore the concept of a whole being one whole object. Later lessons look at a whole representing a set of objects. Use practical examples of a variety of whole objects that can be cut into parts such as pieces of fruit.
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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
How many apples are here?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: 4
5
6
Q2.
How many oranges are here?
An image in a quiz
4
Correct answer: 5
6
Q3.
Are there more apples or oranges?
An image in a quiz
There are more apples than oranges.
Correct answer: There are more oranges than apples.
There are the same amount of apples and oranges.
Q4.
Which number is greater, 8 or 12?
An image in a quiz
8
Correct answer: 12
they are both the same amount.
Q5.
Which number is less, 8 or 12?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: 8
12
they are both the same amount.
Q6.
Lucas thinks that 11 > 9. Is he correct?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Yes, 11 > 9.
No, 9 < 11.
No, 9 = 11

6 Questions

Q1.
What does a 'whole' mean?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Something that is complete, it is all there.
Something that has a part missing, it is not all there.
An opening in the floor that we need to fill.
Q2.
What does a 'part' mean?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: A piece of a whole. The whole is not all there.
A whole object. It is all there.
We add or take some away.
Q3.
Is this a whole cake?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: Yes
No
We can't tell.
Q4.
Is this a whole pizza?
An image in a quiz
Yes
Correct answer: No
We can't tell.
Q5.
Which picture shows a whole pizza?
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Q6.
Which pictures show a whole object?
An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: An image in a quiz
An image in a quiz

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