C Curriculum Explorer
Mathematics·Fractions·conceptual

Splitting shapes into equal parts (age 7+)

Partition circles and rectangles into two, three, or four equal shares; describe shares as halves, thirds, and fourths; recognise that equal shares of identical wholes need not have the same shape

Suggested ages 7–8

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Learning journey

Your child is discovering fractions as parts of a whole — understanding halves, thirds, and quarters, placing fractions on number lines, and beginning to add and subtract simple fractions.

Evidence of understanding

  • Partition a circle into 3 equal parts and label each 'a third'
  • Partition a rectangle into 4 equal shares in more than one way
  • Explain that two different-looking shares can still be equal in size

Assessment prompt

If you cut a rectangle into thirds in two different ways (three strips vs three squares), can Splitting shapes into equal parts (age 7+) recognise that both give equal thirds — even though the pieces look different?

Standards alignment

2.G.3US · ccss-math

Partition circles and rectangles into shares

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics · 2