Master Fractions with Six Hands-On Year 2 Maths Activities
Transform your Year 2 Maths lessons with this comprehensive resource featuring six engaging activities that introduce fractions through practical, visual, and hands-on exploration—making this challenging concept accessible and understandable for young learners.
Six Complete Activities Included:
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Fraction Bar: Build understanding of fractions using fraction bars! Create and compare bars divided into halves, quarters, and thirds, developing visual understanding of how fractions represent parts of a whole
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Fraction of Shapes: Explore fractions by dividing shapes! Fold and cut circles, squares, and rectangles into equal parts, discovering halves, quarters, and thirds through hands-on manipulation of 2D shapes
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Name and Identify Fractions: Learn to recognize and name common fractions! Identify 1/2, 1/4, 1/3, 2/4, and 3/4 in pictures and diagrams, developing fraction vocabulary and recognition skills
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Grouping Objects: Find fractions of quantities! Use counters, cubes, or other objects to find half, quarter, or third of a group, understanding that fractions apply to quantities as well as shapes
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Fraction of Length: Measure fractions using length! Find half, quarter, or third of a length using rulers or strips of paper, connecting fractions to measurement and developing practical fraction sense
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Fractions on a Number Line: Position fractions on number lines! Place halves, quarters, and thirds on number lines between 0 and 1, developing understanding of fractions as numbers and their relative sizes
Why Teachers Choose This Resource:
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Curriculum-Aligned: Fully supports Year 2 Maths objectives for fractions in the National Curriculum of England
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Hands-On Learning: Practical activities that make abstract fraction concepts concrete and visual
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Multiple Representations: Explores fractions through shapes, objects, length, and number lines—building deep understanding
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Ready to Use: Complete lesson plans with learning objectives, resources, and step-by-step instructions
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Progressive Difficulty: Activities build from concrete manipulation to more abstract number line work
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Age-Appropriate: Focuses on halves, quarters, and thirds—the fractions Year 2 children need to master
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Develops Fraction Sense: Builds intuitive understanding alongside technical knowledge
Perfect For:
- Year 2 Maths fractions lessons
- Key Stage 1 fractions teaching
- Homeschool maths curriculum
- Building foundational fraction understanding
- Developing fraction vocabulary and recognition
- Making fractions visual and concrete
Learning Outcomes:
Through these activities, children will recognize, find, name and write fractions 1/3, 1/4, 2/4 and 3/4 of a length, shape, set of objects or quantity, write simple fractions (e.g. 1/2 of 6 = 3), recognize the equivalence of 2/4 and 1/2, understand that fractions are equal parts of a whole, and develop fraction vocabulary and conceptual understanding.
What Makes This Resource Special:
Fractions are notoriously challenging for young children because they're abstract and counterintuitive—the bigger the bottom number, the smaller the piece! These activities make fractions concrete by using shapes you can fold, objects you can count, and lengths you can measure. By experiencing fractions through multiple representations, children build genuine understanding rather than just memorizing rules.
Building Fraction Foundations:
Understanding fractions in Year 2 is crucial for all future maths learning. These activities ensure children grasp that fractions represent equal parts of a whole, that the same fraction can look different in different contexts, and that fractions are numbers that sit between whole numbers—foundational concepts that support fraction work throughout primary school and beyond.
From Concrete to Abstract:
The activities progress from concrete (folding shapes, grouping objects) to more abstract (number lines), following best practice in maths teaching. This progression ensures children develop deep conceptual understanding before moving to more abstract representations, building confidence and competence at each stage.
Make fractions make sense! These engaging activities help Year 2 students master halves, quarters, and thirds through hands-on exploration that makes fractions visual, concrete, and understandable—building the strong foundation needed for all future fraction learning and mathematical success.
