Introduction to Fractions: Quarters of Quantities

Active learning works well for introducing quarters because young students need to see and feel equal parts before they can name them. Handling real objects lets children test their own ideas, such as whether four piles must be the same size, and builds the language of fair shares naturally through doing, not just listening.

• Year 1
• Mathematics
• 4 activities
• 15 min–30 min

Learning Objectives

1. Identify one quarter of a given quantity by partitioning objects into four equal groups.
2. Compare the size of one quarter to one half of a quantity using concrete objects.
3. Explain the process of finding a quarter of a quantity by sharing into four equal groups.
4. Calculate the number of objects in one quarter of a group of up to 12 items.

Experiential Learning

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Pairs: Share the Counters

Give each pair 12 counters and four paper plates. Ask them to deal one counter per plate until none remain, forming four equal groups. Identify one group as a quarter, then discuss and record how many that quarter holds. Pairs repeat with 8 counters.

Prepare & details

Explain how to find a quarter of a group of 8 objects.

Facilitation Tip: During Pairs: Share the Counters, circulate and prompt pairs to check each pile matches before declaring it a quarter.

Setup: Varies; may include outdoor space, lab, or community setting

Materials: Experience setup materials, Reflection journal with prompts, Observation worksheet, Connection-to-content framework

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

Experiential Learning

⏱ 30 min·Small Groups

Small Groups: Quarter Hunt Stations

Set up three stations with objects: 16 buttons, 20 sticks, 12 blocks. Groups partition each into four equal shares at one station before rotating every 7 minutes. At the end, groups share one quarter example per station with the class.

Prepare & details

Compare finding a half with finding a quarter of a quantity.

Facilitation Tip: During Small Groups: Quarter Hunt Stations, provide a checklist so groups record which multiples of 4 they tried and how many objects were in each quarter.

Setup: Varies; may include outdoor space, lab, or community setting

Materials: Experience setup materials, Reflection journal with prompts, Observation worksheet, Connection-to-content framework

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

Experiential Learning

⏱ 25 min·Whole Class

Whole Class: Fruit Fraction Share

Display 8 apples on the board or real fruit. Model dividing into four equal groups. Students chorally predict and confirm quarter size, then draw their own 8-object set quartered. Discuss comparisons to halves.

Prepare & details

Predict how many groups you would make if you were finding a quarter.

Facilitation Tip: During Whole Class: Fruit Fraction Share, pause after cutting each fruit to ask the class to predict how many pieces are in one quarter before you count aloud.

Setup: Varies; may include outdoor space, lab, or community setting

Materials: Experience setup materials, Reflection journal with prompts, Observation worksheet, Connection-to-content framework

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

Experiential Learning

⏱ 15 min·Individual

Individual: Fold and Shade Quarters

Provide square paper and crayons. Students fold into four equal parts, shade one quarter, and label. Extend by drawing circles or rectangles quartered. Collect to review equal partitioning.

Prepare & details

Explain how to find a quarter of a group of 8 objects.

Facilitation Tip: During Individual: Fold and Shade Quarters, ask students to fold twice and unfold so the creases clearly mark four equal parts before shading.

Setup: Varies; may include outdoor space, lab, or community setting

Materials: Experience setup materials, Reflection journal with prompts, Observation worksheet, Connection-to-content framework

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

Teaching This Topic

Start with what children already know: halving. Use objects they can split by eye, then introduce quarters as two equal halves of a half. Avoid worksheets early on; concrete handling reduces confusion between the number four and the fraction one quarter. Research shows that children who physically share objects develop stronger mental images of fractions than those who only see pictures on paper.

What to Expect

By the end of these activities you should see students confidently splitting 8 or 12 items into four equal groups, naming each group a quarter, and explaining why two quarters make a half. They should also compare quarter piles with half piles and use the word ‘equal’ when describing fairness.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During Pairs: Share the Counters, watch for students who create piles of different sizes because they rush.

What to Teach Instead

Ask the pair to recount by moving one object at a time until all piles match exactly, then name the matching group a quarter together.

Common Misconception

During Small Groups: Quarter Hunt Stations, watch for the belief that only multiples of 4 can be quartered.

What to Teach Instead

Redirect the group to try 12 items; after splitting, ask them to explain why 12 works but 5 does not, using the station’s recording sheet.

Common Misconception

During Whole Class: Fruit Fraction Share, watch for students who claim a quarter is the same size as a half.

What to Teach Instead

Hold up two halves and one quarter cut from the same fruit; ask the class to compare widths and agree that two quarters stacked equal one half.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After Pairs: Share the Counters, give each student 8 counters and a sheet with 4 circles. Ask them to share equally, circle one quarter, and write the number inside it.

Discussion Prompt

During Small Groups: Quarter Hunt Stations, present 4 cookies and 8 cookies pictures. Ask each group: 'If 4 people share 8 cookies equally, how many cookies does each person get? How is this different from sharing 4 cookies?' Listen for the words quarter and equal.

Quick Check

After Individual: Fold and Shade Quarters, hold up 4 identical objects and ask students to show with fingers how many are in one quarter. Repeat with 12 objects to check understanding scales.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge: Give early finishers 16 identical items and ask them to find one quarter, then two quarters, then three quarters, recording each as a number sentence.
• Scaffolding: Provide trays with four fixed sections for students who struggle to see where to split; this gives a visual guide for equal shares.
• Deeper exploration: Ask students to draw a picture of a pizza cut into quarters and label how many quarters are left after they pretend to eat one piece.

Key Vocabulary

Quarter	One of four equal parts of a whole or a quantity. It is written as 1/4.
Equal parts	Groups or sections that have the same number of items or the same amount.
Share	To divide a quantity among a number of groups or people fairly, ensuring each receives the same amount.
Group	A collection of objects. When finding a quarter, we make four equal groups.