K-5 friendly lesson
One small step at a time.Read the idea, try the activity, and celebrate each win as you go.
Understand fractions: area models
Let's slice up some shapes! 🍕 Fractions are all about equal parts of a whole. We'll use shapes like circles and rectangles to see what fractions look like.
Do this: Read the concept below, then try the quiz or activity.
Lesson 135 of 220
Concept
An area model is a shape (like a square, rectangle, or circle) that is divided into equal parts. It's a great way to visualize fractions.
The Parts of a Fraction: A fraction has two parts: a numerator (top number) and a denominator (bottom number). * Denominator (Bottom): This tells you how many total equal parts the whole shape is divided into. * Numerator (Top): This tells you how many of those equal parts are shaded or being described.
Visual Example: Imagine a pizza (a circle) that is cut into 8 equal slices. * The denominator of our fraction will be 8, because there are 8 total slices. * Now, imagine you eat 3 of those slices. The parts you ate are the numerator. * So, the fraction of the pizza you ate is 3/8.
Another example: A rectangle is divided into 4 equal parts, and 1 part is colored blue. * The fraction that is blue is 1/4.
Key Idea: The denominator tells you 'how many total pieces', and the numerator tells you 'how many pieces we care about'. For a fraction to be fair, all the pieces must be the same size!
Try it
Practice: Understand fractions: area models.